Chapter 1901 | Municipal Court

Section 1901.01 | Organization of municipal courts.

• Effective: September 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 21, House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby established a municipal court in each of the following municipal corporations:

Akron, Alliance, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Avon Lake, Barberton, Bedford, Bellefontaine, Bellevue, Berea, Bowling Green, Bryan, Bucyrus, Cambridge, Campbell, Canton, Carrollton, Celina, Chardon, Chesapeake, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Circleville, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Columbus, Conneaut, Coshocton, Cuyahoga Falls, Dayton, Defiance, Delaware, East Cleveland, Eaton, Elyria, Euclid, Fairborn, Fairfield, Findlay, Franklin, Fremont, Gallipolis, Garfield Heights, Georgetown, Girard, Greenville, Hamilton, Hillsboro, Huron, Ironton, Jackson, Kenton, Kettering, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lima, Logan, London, Lorain, Lyndhurst, Mansfield, Marietta, Marion, Marysville, Mason, Massillon, Maumee, Medina, Mentor, Miamisburg, Middletown, Millersburg, Mount Gilead, Mount Vernon, Napoleon, Newark, New Lexington, New Philadelphia, Newton Falls, Niles, Norwalk, Oakwood, Oberlin, Oregon, Ottawa, Painesville, Parma, Paulding, Perrysburg, Port Clinton, Portsmouth, Ravenna, Rocky River, Sandusky, Shaker Heights, Shelby, Sidney, South Euclid, Springfield, Steubenville, Struthers, Sylvania, Tiffin, Toledo, Troy, Upper Sandusky, Urbana, Vandalia, Van Wert, Vermilion, Wadsworth, Wapakoneta, Warren, City of Washington in Fayette county, to be known as Washington Court House, Wauseon, Willoughby, Wilmington, Wooster, Xenia, Youngstown, and Zanesville.

(B) There is hereby established a municipal court within Clermont county in Batavia or in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Clermont county that is selected by the legislative authority of the Clermont county municipal court. The municipal court established by this division is a continuation of the municipal court previously established in Batavia by this section before the enactment of this division.

(C) There is hereby established a municipal court within Columbiana county in Lisbon or in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Columbiana county that is selected by the judges of the municipal court pursuant to division (I) of section 1901.021 of the Revised Code.

(D) Effective January 1, 2008, there is hereby established a municipal court within Erie county in Milan or in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Erie county that is within the territorial jurisdiction of the Erie county municipal court and is selected by the legislative authority of that court.

(E) The Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall remain in existence until December 31, 2008, and shall be replaced by the Stow municipal court on January 1, 2009.

(F) Effective January 1, 2009, there is hereby established a municipal court in the municipal corporation of Stow.

(G) Effective July 1, 2010, there is hereby established a municipal court within Montgomery county in any municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Montgomery county, except the municipal corporations of Centerville, Clayton, Dayton, Englewood, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Union, Vandalia, and West Carrollton and Butler, German, Harrison, Miami, and Washington townships, that is selected by the legislative authority of that court.

Last updated August 7, 2023 at 2:25 PM

Section 1901.011 | Housing divisions - environmental division.

• Effective: July 8, 1991
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 119th General Assembly

There is hereby created a housing division in the Cleveland municipal court and in the Toledo municipal court, and an environmental division in the Franklin county municipal court.

Section 1901.02 | Jurisdiction of municipal courts.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 301 - 135th General Assembly

(A) The municipal courts established by section 1901.01 of the Revised Code have jurisdiction within the corporate limits of their respective municipal corporations, or, for the Clermont county municipal court, and, effective January 1, 2008, the Erie county municipal court, within the municipal corporation or unincorporated territory in which they are established, and are courts of record. Each of the courts shall be styled "__________________________________ municipal court," inserting the name of the municipal corporation, except the following courts, which shall be styled as set forth below:

(1) The municipal court established in Chesapeake that shall be styled and known as the "Lawrence county municipal court";

(2) The municipal court established in Cincinnati that shall be styled and known as the "Hamilton county municipal court";

(3) The municipal court established in Ravenna that shall be styled and known as the "Portage county municipal court";

(4) The municipal court established in Athens that shall be styled and known as the "Athens county municipal court";

(5) The municipal court established in Columbus that shall be styled and known as the "Franklin county municipal court";

(6) The municipal court established in London that shall be styled and known as the "Madison county municipal court";

(7) The municipal court established in Newark that shall be styled and known as the "Licking county municipal court";

(8) The municipal court established in Wooster that shall be styled and known as the "Wayne county municipal court";

(9) The municipal court established in Wapakoneta that shall be styled and known as the "Auglaize county municipal court";

(10) The municipal court established in Troy that shall be styled and known as the "Miami county municipal court";

(11) The municipal court established in Bucyrus that shall be styled and known as the "Crawford county municipal court";

(12) The municipal court established in Logan that shall be styled and known as the "Hocking county municipal court";

(13) The municipal court established in Urbana that shall be styled and known as the "Champaign county municipal court";

(14) The municipal court established in Jackson that shall be styled and known as the "Jackson county municipal court";

(15) The municipal court established in Springfield that shall be styled and known as the "Clark county municipal court";

(16) The municipal court established in Kenton that shall be styled and known as the "Hardin county municipal court";

(17) The municipal court established within Clermont county in Batavia or in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Clermont county that is selected by the legislative authority of that court that shall be styled and known as the "Clermont county municipal court";

(18) The municipal court established in Wilmington that, beginning July 1, 1992, shall be styled and known as the "Clinton county municipal court";

(19) The municipal court established in Port Clinton that shall be styled and known as the "Ottawa county municipal court";

(20) The municipal court established in Lancaster that, beginning January 2, 2000, shall be styled and known as the "Fairfield county municipal court";

(21) The municipal court established within Columbiana county in Lisbon or in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory selected pursuant to division (I) of section 1901.021 of the Revised Code, that shall be styled and known as the "Columbiana county municipal court";

(22) The municipal court established in Georgetown that, beginning February 9, 2003, shall be styled and known as the "Brown county municipal court";

(23) The municipal court established in Mount Gilead that, beginning January 1, 2003, shall be styled and known as the "Morrow county municipal court";

(24) The municipal court established in Greenville that, beginning January 1, 2005, shall be styled and known as the "Darke county municipal court";

(25) The municipal court established in Millersburg that, beginning January 1, 2007, shall be styled and known as the "Holmes county municipal court";

(26) The municipal court established in Carrollton that, beginning January 1, 2007, shall be styled and known as the "Carroll county municipal court";

(27) The municipal court established within Erie county in Milan or established in any other municipal corporation or unincorporated territory that is within Erie county, is within the territorial jurisdiction of that court, and is selected by the legislative authority of that court that, beginning January 1, 2008, shall be styled and known as the "Erie county municipal court";

(28) The municipal court established in Ottawa that, beginning January 1, 2011, shall be styled and known as the "Putnam county municipal court";

(29) The municipal court established within Montgomery county in any municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Montgomery county, except the municipal corporations of Centerville, Clayton, Dayton, Englewood, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Union, Vandalia, and West Carrollton and Butler, German, Harrison, Miami, and Washington townships, that is selected by the legislative authority of that court and that, beginning July 1, 2010, shall be styled and known as the "Montgomery county municipal court";

(30) The municipal court established in Tiffin that, beginning January 1, 2014, shall be styled and known as the "Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court";

(31) The municipal court established in New Lexington that, beginning January 1, 2018, shall be styled and known as the "Perry county municipal court";

(32) The municipal court established in Paulding that, beginning January 1, 2020, shall be styled and known as the "Paulding county municipal court";

(33) The municipal court established in Wauseon that, beginning January 1, 2024, shall be styled and known as the "Fulton county municipal court."

(B) In addition to the jurisdiction set forth in division (A) of this section, the municipal courts established by section 1901.01 of the Revised Code have jurisdiction as follows:

The Akron municipal court has jurisdiction within Bath, Richfield, and Springfield townships, and within the municipal corporations of Fairlawn, Lakemore, and Mogadore, in Summit county.

The Alliance municipal court has jurisdiction within Lexington, Marlboro, Paris, and Washington townships in Stark county.

The Ashland municipal court has jurisdiction within Ashland county.

The Ashtabula municipal court has jurisdiction within Ashtabula, Plymouth, and Saybrook townships in Ashtabula county.

The Athens county municipal court has jurisdiction within Athens county.

The Auglaize county municipal court has jurisdiction within Auglaize county.

The Avon Lake municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Avon and Sheffield in Lorain county.

The Barberton municipal court has jurisdiction within Coventry, Franklin, and Green townships, within all of Copley township except within the municipal corporation of Fairlawn, and within the municipal corporations of Clinton and Norton, in Summit county.

The Bedford municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Bedford Heights, Oakwood, Glenwillow, Solon, Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls, Moreland Hills, Orange, Warrensville Heights, North Randall, and Woodmere, and within Warrensville and Chagrin Falls townships, in Cuyahoga county.

The Bellefontaine municipal court has jurisdiction within Logan county.

The Bellevue municipal court has jurisdiction within Lyme and Sherman townships in Huron county and within York township in Sandusky county.

The Berea municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Strongsville, Middleburgh Heights, Brook Park, Westview, and Olmsted Falls, and within Olmsted township, in Cuyahoga county.

The Bowling Green municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Bairdstown, Bloomdale, Bradner, Custar, Cygnet, Grand Rapids, Haskins, Hoytville, Jerry City, Milton Center, North Baltimore, Pemberville, Portage, Rising Sun, Tontogany, Wayne, West Millgrove, and Weston; within Bloom, Center, Freedom, Grand Rapids, Henry, Jackson, Liberty, Middleton, Milton, Montgomery, Plain, Portage, Washington, Webster, and Weston townships in Wood county; and on and after January 2, 2024, within Perry township in Wood county.

Beginning February 9, 2003, the Brown county municipal court has jurisdiction within Brown county.

The Bryan municipal court has jurisdiction within Williams county.

The Cambridge municipal court has jurisdiction within Guernsey county.

The Campbell municipal court has jurisdiction within Coitsville township in Mahoning county.

The Canton municipal court has jurisdiction within Canton, Lake, Nimishillen, Osnaburg, Pike, Plain, and Sandy townships in Stark county.

The Carroll county municipal court has jurisdiction within Carroll county.

The Celina municipal court has jurisdiction within Mercer county.

The Champaign county municipal court has jurisdiction within Champaign county.

The Chardon municipal court has jurisdiction within Geauga county.

The Chillicothe municipal court has jurisdiction within Ross county.

The Circleville municipal court has jurisdiction within Pickaway county.

The Clark county municipal court has jurisdiction within Clark county.

The Clermont county municipal court has jurisdiction within Clermont county.

The Cleveland municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Bratenahl in Cuyahoga county.

Beginning July 1, 1992, the Clinton county municipal court has jurisdiction within Clinton county.

The Columbiana county municipal court has jurisdiction within Columbiana county.

Beginning January 1, 2025, the Conneaut municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of North Kingsville, and within Kingsville, Monroe, and Sheffield townships, in Ashtabula county.

The Coshocton municipal court has jurisdiction within Coshocton county.

The Crawford county municipal court has jurisdiction within Crawford county.

Until December 31, 2008, the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court has jurisdiction within Boston, Hudson, Northfield Center, Sagamore Hills, and Twinsburg townships, and within the municipal corporations of Boston Heights, Hudson, Munroe Falls, Northfield, Peninsula, Reminderville, Silver Lake, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, and Macedonia, in Summit county.

Beginning January 1, 2005, the Darke county municipal court has jurisdiction within Darke county except within the municipal corporation of Bradford.

The Defiance municipal court has jurisdiction within Defiance county.

The Delaware municipal court has jurisdiction within Delaware county.

The Eaton municipal court has jurisdiction within Preble county.

The Elyria municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Grafton, LaGrange, and North Ridgeville, and within Elyria, Carlisle, Eaton, Columbia, Grafton, and LaGrange townships, in Lorain county.

Beginning January 1, 2008, the Erie county municipal court has jurisdiction within Erie county except within the townships of Florence, Huron, Perkins, and Vermilion and the municipal corporations of Bay View, Castalia, Huron, Sandusky, and Vermilion.

The Fairborn municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Beavercreek and within Bath and Beavercreek townships in Greene county.

Beginning January 2, 2000, the Fairfield county municipal court has jurisdiction within Fairfield county.

The Findlay municipal court has jurisdiction, until January 2, 2024, within all of Hancock county except within Washington township, and on and after January 2, 2024, within all of Hancock county.

The Franklin municipal court has jurisdiction within Franklin township in Warren county.

The Franklin county municipal court has jurisdiction within Franklin county.

The Fremont municipal court has jurisdiction within Ballville and Sandusky townships in Sandusky county.

Beginning January 1, 2024, the Fulton county municipal court has jurisdiction within Fulton county.

The Gallipolis municipal court has jurisdiction within Gallia county.

The Garfield Heights municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Maple Heights, Walton Hills, Valley View, Cuyahoga Heights, Newburgh Heights, Independence, and Brecksville in Cuyahoga county.

The Girard municipal court has jurisdiction within Liberty, Vienna, and Hubbard townships in Trumbull county.

The Hamilton municipal court has jurisdiction within Ross and St. Clair townships in Butler county.

The Hamilton county municipal court has jurisdiction within Hamilton county.

The Hardin county municipal court has jurisdiction within Hardin county.

The Hillsboro municipal court has jurisdiction within all of Highland county except within Madison township.

The Hocking county municipal court has jurisdiction within Hocking county.

The Holmes county municipal court has jurisdiction within Holmes county.

The Huron municipal court has jurisdiction within all of Huron township in Erie county except within the municipal corporation of Sandusky.

The Ironton municipal court has jurisdiction within Aid, Decatur, Elizabeth, Hamilton, Lawrence, Upper, and Washington townships in Lawrence county.

The Jackson county municipal court has jurisdiction within Jackson county.

The Kettering municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Centerville and Moraine, and within Washington township, in Montgomery county.

Until January 2, 2000, the Lancaster municipal court has jurisdiction within Fairfield county.

The Lawrence county municipal court has jurisdiction within the townships of Fayette, Mason, Perry, Rome, Symmes, Union, and Windsor in Lawrence county.

The Lebanon municipal court has jurisdiction within Turtlecreek township in Warren county.

The Licking county municipal court has jurisdiction within Licking county.

The Lima municipal court has jurisdiction within Allen county.

The Lorain municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Sheffield Lake, and within Sheffield township, in Lorain county.

The Lyndhurst municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Mayfield Heights, Gates Mills, Mayfield, Highland Heights, and Richmond Heights in Cuyahoga county.

The Madison county municipal court has jurisdiction within Madison county.

The Mansfield municipal court has jurisdiction within Madison, Springfield, Sandusky, Franklin, Weller, Mifflin, Troy, Washington, Monroe, Perry, Jefferson, and Worthington townships, and within sections 35-36-31 and 32 of Butler township, in Richland county.

The Marietta municipal court has jurisdiction within Washington county.

The Marion municipal court has jurisdiction within Marion county.

The Marysville municipal court has jurisdiction within Union county.

The Mason municipal court has jurisdiction within Deerfield township in Warren county.

The Massillon municipal court has jurisdiction within Bethlehem, Perry, Sugar Creek, Tuscarawas, Lawrence, and Jackson townships in Stark county.

The Maumee municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Waterville and Whitehouse, within Waterville and Providence townships, and within those portions of Springfield, Monclova, and Swanton townships lying south of the northerly boundary line of the Ohio turnpike, in Lucas county.

The Medina municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Briarwood Beach, Brunswick, Chippewa-on-the-Lake, and Spencer and within the townships of Brunswick Hills, Chatham, Granger, Hinckley, Lafayette, Litchfield, Liverpool, Medina, Montville, Spencer, and York townships, in Medina county.

The Mentor municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Mentor-on-the-Lake in Lake county.

The Miami county municipal court has jurisdiction within Miami county and within the part of the municipal corporation of Bradford that is located in Darke county.

The Miamisburg municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Germantown and West Carrollton, and within German and Miami townships in Montgomery county.

The Middletown municipal court has jurisdiction within Madison township, and within all of Lemon township, except within the municipal corporation of Monroe, in Butler county.

Beginning July 1, 2010, the Montgomery county municipal court has jurisdiction within all of Montgomery county except for the municipal corporations of Centerville, Clayton, Dayton, Englewood, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Union, Vandalia, and West Carrollton and Butler, German, Harrison, Miami, and Washington townships.

Beginning January 1, 2003, the Morrow county municipal court has jurisdiction within Morrow county.

The Mount Vernon municipal court has jurisdiction within Knox county.

The Napoleon municipal court has jurisdiction within Henry county.

The New Philadelphia municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Dover, and within Auburn, Bucks, Fairfield, Goshen, Jefferson, Warren, York, Dover, Franklin, Lawrence, Sandy, Sugarcreek, and Wayne townships in Tuscarawas county.

The Newton Falls municipal court has jurisdiction within Bristol, Bloomfield, Lordstown, Newton, Braceville, Southington, Farmington, and Mesopotamia townships in Trumbull county.

The Niles municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of McDonald, and within Weathersfield township in Trumbull county.

The Norwalk municipal court has jurisdiction within all of Huron county except within the municipal corporation of Bellevue and except within Lyme and Sherman townships.

The Oberlin municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Amherst, Kipton, Rochester, South Amherst, and Wellington, and within Henrietta, Russia, Camden, Pittsfield, Brighton, Wellington, Penfield, Rochester, and Huntington townships, and within all of Amherst township except within the municipal corporation of Lorain, in Lorain county.

The Oregon municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporation of Harbor View, and within Jerusalem township, in Lucas county, and north within Maumee Bay and Lake Erie to the boundary line between Ohio and Michigan between the easterly boundary of the court and the easterly boundary of the Toledo municipal court.

The Ottawa county municipal court has jurisdiction within Ottawa county.

The Painesville municipal court has jurisdiction within Painesville, Perry, Leroy, Concord, and Madison townships in Lake county.

The Parma municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Parma Heights, Brooklyn, Linndale, North Royalton, Broadview Heights, Seven Hills, and Brooklyn Heights in Cuyahoga county.

Beginning January 1, 2018, the Perry county municipal court has jurisdiction within Perry county.

Beginning January 1, 2020, the Paulding county municipal court has jurisdiction within Paulding county.

The Perrysburg municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Luckey, Millbury, Northwood, Rossford, and Walbridge, and within Perrysburg, Lake, and Troy townships, in Wood county.

The Portage county municipal court has jurisdiction within Portage county.

The Portsmouth municipal court has jurisdiction within Scioto county.

The Putnam county municipal court has jurisdiction within Putnam county.

The Rocky River municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Bay Village, Westlake, Fairview Park, and North Olmsted, and within Riveredge township, in Cuyahoga county.

The Sandusky municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Castalia and Bay View, and within Perkins township, in Erie county.

The Shaker Heights municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of University Heights, Beachwood, Pepper Pike, and Hunting Valley in Cuyahoga county.

The Shelby municipal court has jurisdiction within Sharon, Jackson, Cass, Plymouth, and Blooming Grove townships, and within all of Butler township except sections 35-36-31 and 32, in Richland county.

The Sidney municipal court has jurisdiction within Shelby county.

Beginning January 1, 2009, the Stow municipal court has jurisdiction within Boston, Hudson, Northfield Center, Sagamore Hills, and Twinsburg townships, and within the municipal corporations of Boston Heights, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Munroe Falls, Northfield, Peninsula, Reminderville, Silver Lake, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, and Macedonia, in Summit county.

The Struthers municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Lowellville, New Middleton, and Poland, and within Poland and Springfield townships in Mahoning county.

The Sylvania municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Berkey and Holland, and within Sylvania, Richfield, Spencer, and Harding townships, and within those portions of Swanton, Monclova, and Springfield townships lying north of the northerly boundary line of the Ohio turnpike, in Lucas county.

Beginning January 1, 2014, the Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court has jurisdiction within Adams, Big Spring, Bloom, Clinton, Eden, Hopewell, Jackson, Liberty, Loudon, Pleasant, Reed, Scipio, Seneca, Thompson, and Venice townships in Seneca county, and beginning on January 1, 2014, and until January 2, 2024, has jurisdiction within Washington township in Hancock county, and within Perry township, except within the municipal corporation of West Millgrove, in Wood county.

The Toledo municipal court has jurisdiction within Washington township, and within the municipal corporation of Ottawa Hills, in Lucas county.

The Upper Sandusky municipal court has jurisdiction within Wyandot county.

The Vandalia municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Clayton, Englewood, and Union, and within Butler, Harrison, and Randolph townships, in Montgomery county.

The Van Wert municipal court has jurisdiction within Van Wert county.

The Vermilion municipal court has jurisdiction within the townships of Vermilion and Florence in Erie county and within all of Brownhelm township except within the municipal corporation of Lorain, in Lorain county.

The Wadsworth municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Gloria Glens Park, Lodi, Seville, and Westfield Center, and within Guilford, Harrisville, Homer, Sharon, Wadsworth, and Westfield townships in Medina county.

The Warren municipal court has jurisdiction within Warren and Champion townships, and within all of Howland township except within the municipal corporation of Niles, in Trumbull county.

The Washington Court House municipal court has jurisdiction within Fayette county.

The Wayne county municipal court has jurisdiction within Wayne county.

The Willoughby municipal court has jurisdiction within the municipal corporations of Eastlake, Wickliffe, Willowick, Willoughby Hills, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Waite Hill, Timberlake, and Lakeline, and within Kirtland township, in Lake county.

Through June 30, 1992, the Wilmington municipal court has jurisdiction within Clinton county.

The Xenia municipal court has jurisdiction within Caesarcreek, Cedarville, Jefferson, Miami, New Jasper, Ross, Silvercreek, Spring Valley, Sugarcreek, and Xenia townships in Greene county.

(C) As used in this section:

(1) "Within a township" includes all land, including, but not limited to, any part of any municipal corporation, that is physically located within the territorial boundaries of that township, whether or not that land or municipal corporation is governmentally a part of the township.

(2) "Within a municipal corporation" includes all land within the territorial boundaries of the municipal corporation and any townships that are coextensive with the municipal corporation.

Last updated August 28, 2024 at 1:42 PM

Section 1901.021 | Court sitting outside corporate limits of municipal corporation.

• Effective: September 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 21, House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (M) of this section, the judge or judges of any municipal court established under division (A) of section 1901.01 of the Revised Code having territorial jurisdiction outside the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located may sit outside the corporate limits of the municipal corporation within the area of its territorial jurisdiction.

(B) Two or more of the judges of the Hamilton county municipal court may be assigned by the presiding judge of the court to sit outside the municipal corporation of Cincinnati.

(C) Two of the judges of the Portage county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporation of Ravenna, and one of the judges shall sit within the municipal corporation of Kent. The judges may sit in other incorporated areas of Portage county.

(D) The judges of the Wayne county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporation of Wooster and may sit in other incorporated areas of Wayne county.

(E) The judge of the Auglaize county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporations of Wapakoneta and St. Marys and may sit in other incorporated areas in Auglaize county.

(F) At least one of the judges of the Miami county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporations of Troy, Piqua, and Tipp City, and the judges may sit in other incorporated areas of Miami county.

(G) The judge of the Crawford county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporations of Bucyrus and Galion and may sit in other incorporated areas in Crawford county.

(H) The judge of the Jackson county municipal court shall sit within the municipal corporations of Jackson and Wellston and may sit in other incorporated areas in Jackson county.

(I) Each judge of the Columbiana county municipal court may sit within the municipal corporation of Lisbon, Salem, or East Palestine until the judges jointly select a central location within the territorial jurisdiction of the court. When the judges select a central location, the judges shall sit at that location.

(J) In any municipal court, other than the Hamilton county municipal court and the Montgomery county municipal court, that has more than one judge, the decision for one or more judges to sit outside the corporate limits of the municipal corporation shall be made by rule of the court as provided in division (C) of sections 1901.14 and 1901.16 of the Revised Code.

(K) The assignment of a judge to sit in a municipal corporation other than that in which the court is located does not affect the jurisdiction of the mayor except as provided in section 1905.01 of the Revised Code.

(L) The judges of the Clermont county municipal court may sit in any municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Clermont county.

(M) Beginning July 1, 2010, the judges of the Montgomery county municipal court shall sit in the same locations as the judges of the Montgomery county county court sat before the county court was abolished on that date. The legislative authority of the Montgomery county municipal court may determine after that date that the judges of the Montgomery county municipal court shall sit in any municipal corporation or unincorporated territory within Montgomery county.

(N) The judge of the Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court shall sit within each of the municipal corporations of Tiffin and Fostoria on a weekly basis. Cases that arise within the municipal corporation of Tiffin and within Adams, Big Spring, Bloom, Clinton, Eden, Hopewell, Liberty, Pleasant, Reed, Scioto, Seneca, Thompson, and Venice townships in Seneca county shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court located in the municipal corporation of Tiffin. Cases that arise in the municipal corporation of Fostoria and within Loudon and Jackson townships in Seneca county shall be filed in the office of the special deputy clerk located in the municipal corporation of Fostoria. Until January 2, 2024, cases that arise within Washington township in Hancock county, and within Perry township, except within the municipal corporation of West Millgrove, in Wood county, shall be filed in the office of the special deputy clerk located in the municipal corporation of Fostoria.

(O) The judge of the Fulton county municipal court shall sit within each of the municipal corporations of Wauseon and Swanton on a weekly basis. Cases that arise within the municipal corporation of Wauseon and within Chesterfield, Clinton, Dover, Franklin, German, and Gorham townships in Fulton county shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court located in the municipal corporation of Wauseon. Cases that arise in the municipal corporation of Swanton and within Amboy, Fulton, Pike, Swan Creek, Royalton, and York townships shall be filed in the office of the special deputy clerk located in the municipal corporation of Swanton.

Last updated August 7, 2023 at 2:26 PM

Section 1901.022 | Jurisdiction to appoint trustees to receive and distribute earnings in executions against property.

• Effective: November 6, 1959
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 571 - 103rd General Assembly

In addition to the territorial jurisdiction conferred by section 1901.02 of the Revised Code, all municipal courts shall also have jurisdiction within the limits of the county or counties in which their territory is situated, except within the territorial jurisdiction of another municipal court, to appoint trustees to receive and distribute earnings in accordance with section 2329.70 of the Revised Code.

Section 1901.023 | Extension of jurisdiction for municipal courts on south shore of Lake Erie.

• Effective: February 4, 1994
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 21 - 120th General Assembly

In addition to the territorial jurisdiction conferred by section 1901.02 of the Revised Code, the municipal courts of Ashtabula, Avon Lake, Cleveland, Conneaut, Euclid, Huron, Lakewood, Lorain, Mentor, Oregon, Ottawa county, Painesville, Rocky River, Sandusky, Toledo, Vermilion, and Willoughby have jurisdiction within their respective counties northerly beyond the south shore of Lake Erie to the international boundary line between the United States and Canada, between the easterly and westerly boundary lines of the adjacent municipal or county courts. The municipal courts that are given jurisdiction in Lake Erie by this section have concurrent jurisdiction in Lake Erie with any adjacent county or municipal courts that borders on Lake Erie.

Section 1901.024 | Costs, fees, receipts of county municipal courts.

• Effective: January 1, 2010
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 420 - 127th General Assembly

(A) The board of county commissioners of Hamilton county shall pay all of the costs of operation of the Hamilton county municipal court. Subject to sections 307.515, 4511.19, 4511.193, and 5503.04 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court, the county shall receive all of the costs, fees, and other moneys, except fines collected for violations of municipal ordinances and for violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code, that are received by the Hamilton county municipal court and shall receive fifty per cent of all of the fines for violations of municipal ordinances and for violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code that are received by the court.

(B) The board of county commissioners of Lawrence county shall pay all of the costs of operation of the Lawrence county municipal court. Subject to sections 307.515, 4511.19, 4511.193, and 5503.04 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court, the county shall receive all of the costs, fees, and other moneys, except fines collected for violations of municipal ordinances and for violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code, that are received by the Lawrence county municipal court and shall receive fifty per cent of all of the fines for violations of municipal ordinances and for violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code that are received by the court.

(C) The board of county commissioners of Ottawa county shall pay all of the costs of operation of the Ottawa county municipal court. Subject to sections 307.515, 4511.19, 4511.193, and 5503.04 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court, the county shall receive all of the costs, fees, and other moneys, except fines collected for violations of municipal ordinances and for violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code, that are received by the Ottawa county municipal court and shall receive fifty per cent of all of the fines for violations of municipal ordinances and for violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code that are received by the court.

(D) The board of county commissioners of a county in which a county-operated municipal court is located shall pay all of the costs of operation of the municipal court. The county in which a county-operated municipal court that is not subject to division (A), (B), or (C) of this section is located shall receive all of the costs, fees, and other moneys, except fines collected for violations of municipal ordinances and for violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code and except as provided in sections 307.515 and 5503.04 of the Revised Code and in any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court, that are received by the court.

Section 1901.025 | Jurisdiction of housing and environmental divisions.

• Effective: July 8, 1991
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 119th General Assembly

The housing or environmental division of a municipal court created pursuant to section 1901.011 of the Revised Code has the same territorial jurisdiction as the municipal court of which it is a part, but shall be styled and known as the "housing division of the _________," or the "environmental division of the ______________," inserting the name of the municipal court.

Section 1901.026 | Current operating costs apportioned.

• Effective: September 20, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) The current operating costs of a municipal court, other than a county-operated municipal court, that has territorial jurisdiction under section 1901.02 or 1901.182 of the Revised Code that extends beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which the court is located shall be apportioned pursuant to this section among all of the municipal corporations and townships that are within the territory of the court. Each municipal corporation and each township within the territory of the municipal court shall be assigned a proportionate share of the current operating costs of the municipal court that is equal to the percentage of the total criminal and civil caseload of the municipal court that arose in that municipal corporation or township. Each municipal corporation and each township then shall be liable for its assigned proportionate share of the current operating costs of the court, subject to division (B) of this section.

For purposes of this section, the criminal and civil caseload that arose in a municipal corporation or township is the total number of criminal cases filed in the municipal court during the preceding calendar year that arose out of offenses that occurred in the municipal corporation or township and the total number of civil cases filed in the municipal court during the preceding calendar year in which the address of the majority of the defendants that are designated in the caption of the case and that have addresses within municipal corporations or townships within the territory of the court is within the municipal corporation or township or, if there is no majority of such defendants, in which the address of the first such defendant is within the municipal corporation or township.

(B) A municipal corporation or township within the territory of a municipal court is not required to pay that part of its proportionate share of the current operating costs of the court, as determined in accordance with division (A) of this section, that exceeds the total amount of costs, fees, fines, bail, or other moneys that was disbursed by the clerk of the court under division (F) of section 1901.31 of the Revised Code, to the municipal corporation or township during the period for which its proportionate share of the current operating costs was determined. The municipal corporation in which the court is located is liable, in addition to its proportionate share, for any part of the proportionate share of a municipal corporation or township that the municipal corporation or township is not required to pay under this division.

(C) The auditors or chief fiscal officers of each of the municipal corporations and townships within the territory of a municipal court for which the current operating costs are apportioned under this section shall meet not less than once each six months at the office of the auditor or chief fiscal officer of the municipal corporation in which the court is located to determine the proportionate share due from each municipal corporation and each township, to determine whether any municipal corporation or township is not required to pay any part of its proportionate share under division (B) of this section, and to adjust accounts. The meetings shall be held at the direction of the auditor or chief fiscal officer of the municipal corporation in which the court is located, and the auditor or chief fiscal officer shall preside at the meetings. The proportionate share of each of the municipal corporations and townships, as reduced or increased in accordance with division (B) of this section, is payable from the general fund of the municipal corporation or township or from any other fund designated or funds appropriated for the purpose of paying the particular municipal corporation's or township's proportionate share of the current operating costs of the court.

The court of common pleas of the county in which a municipal court for which the current operating costs are apportioned under this section is located has jurisdiction over any civil action that is commenced to determine the current operating costs of the court, the proportionate share of the current operating costs to be paid by a particular municipal corporation or township within the territory of the court, or whether a municipal corporation or township is not required to pay any part of its proportionate share under division (B) of this section.

(D) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Operating costs" means the figure that is derived by subtracting the total of all costs that are collected and paid to the city treasury by the clerk of the municipal court pursuant to division (F) of section 1901.31 of the Revised Code and all interest received and paid to the city treasury in relation to the costs pursuant to division (G) of section 1901.31 of the Revised Code from the total of the amounts payable from the city treasury for the operation of the court pursuant to sections 1901.10, 1901.11, 1901.111, 1901.12, 1901.31, 1901.311, 1901.312, 1901.32, 1901.33, 1901.331, 1901.36, 1901.37, and 1901.38 of the Revised Code, other than any amounts payable from the city treasury for the operation of the court involving construction, capital improvements, rent, or the provision of heat and light.

(2) "Township" means a township that has adopted a limited home rule government pursuant to Chapter 504. of the Revised Code.

(3) "Criminal caseload" when used in regard to a township means cases arising from a violation of a township resolution for which a fine is imposed under Chapter 504. of the Revised Code.

Section 1901.027 | Ohio River jurisdiction.

• Effective: September 23, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 518 - 134th General Assembly

In addition to the territorial jurisdiction conferred by section 1901.02 of the Revised Code, the municipal courts established in Athens, Batavia, Gallipolis, Georgetown, Cincinnati, Ironton, Chesapeake, Marietta, Portsmouth, and Steubenville and the municipal court established within Columbiana county that is described in division (C) of section 1901.01 of the Revised Code have jurisdiction beyond the north or northwest shore of the Ohio river extending to the opposite shore line, between the extended boundary lines of any adjacent municipal courts or adjacent county courts. Each of the municipal courts that is given jurisdiction on the Ohio river by this section has concurrent jurisdiction on the Ohio river with any adjacent municipal courts or adjacent county courts that border on that river and with any court of Kentucky or of West Virginia that borders on the Ohio river and that has jurisdiction on the Ohio river under the law of Kentucky or the law of West Virginia, whichever is applicable, or under federal law.

Last updated July 8, 2022 at 10:28 AM

Section 1901.028 | Temporary location of court in event of emergency.

• Effective: March 23, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 290 - 130th General Assembly

(A) In the event of a natural or man-made disaster, civil disorder, or any extraordinary circumstance that interrupts or threatens to interrupt the orderly operation of a municipal court within the territorial jurisdiction of the court, the administrative judge of the court may issue an order authorizing the court to operate at a temporary location inside or outside the territorial jurisdiction of the court. The order shall identify the temporary location at which the court shall operate and the date on which operations shall commence at the temporary location. The court shall operate at the temporary location until the administrative judge withdraws, cancels, or rescinds the order.

(B) The authority of an administrative judge of a municipal court to issue an order authorizing the court to operate at a temporary location pursuant to division (A) of this section is independent of and shall not be conditioned upon a declaration of a judicial emergency issued by the chief justice of the supreme court pursuant to Rule 14 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio.

(C) For the period during which a municipal court operates in a temporary location pursuant to division (A) of this section, the court shall continue to have the territorial jurisdiction set forth in section 1901.02 of the Revised Code and the court shall have jurisdiction to hear actions and conduct proceedings the same as if the court were operating within that territorial jurisdiction.

(D) As soon as practicable following issuance of an order pursuant to division (A) of this section, both of the following shall occur:

(1) The administrative judge of the municipal court shall provide notice and a copy of the order by regular or electronic mail to all of the following:

(a) The chief justice and administrative director of the supreme court;

(b) The legislative authorities of the local funding authorities of the court;

(c) All appropriate law enforcement agencies, prosecuting authorities, public defender agencies, and local bar associations within the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

(2) If the court operates and maintains a web site, the web site shall provide notification of the operation of the court at the temporary location, including the site of the temporary location and the date on which operations shall commence at the temporary location.

(E) As soon as practicable following the withdrawal, cancellation, or rescission of an order issued pursuant to division (A) of this section, each of the following shall occur:

(1) The administrative judge of the municipal court shall provide notice by regular or electronic mail to all of the following:

(a) The chief justice and administrative director of the supreme court;

(b) The legislative authorities of the local funding authorities of the court;

(c) All appropriate law enforcement agencies, prosecuting authorities, public defender agencies, and local bar associations within the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

(2) If the court operates and maintains a web site, the web site shall provide notification of the operation of the court at the permanent location of the court, including the site of the permanent location and the date on which operations shall commence at the permanent location.

Section 1901.03 | Municipal court definitions.

• Effective: September 23, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 518 - 134th General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Territory" means the geographical areas within which municipal courts have jurisdiction as provided in sections 1901.01 and 1901.02 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Legislative authority" means the legislative authority of the municipal corporation in which a municipal court, other than a county-operated municipal court, is located, and means the respective board of county commissioners of the county in which a county-operated municipal court is located.

(C) "Chief executive" means the chief executive of the municipal corporation in which a municipal court, other than a county-operated municipal court, is located, and means the respective chairman of the board of county commissioners of the county in which a county-operated municipal court is located.

(D) "City treasury" means the treasury of the municipal corporation in which a municipal court, other than a county-operated municipal court, is located.

(E) "City treasurer" means the treasurer of the municipal corporation in which a municipal court, other than a county-operated municipal court, is located.

(F) "County-operated municipal court" means the Auglaize county, Brown county, Carroll county, Clermont county, Columbiana county, Crawford county, Darke county, Erie county, Hamilton county, Hocking county, Holmes county, Jackson county, Lawrence county, Madison county, Miami county, Montgomery county, Morrow county, Ottawa county, Portage county, Putnam county, or Wayne county municipal court and, effective January 1, 2018, also includes the Perry county municipal court, and, effective January 1, 2020, also includes the Paulding county municipal court, and, effective January 1, 2024, also includes the Fulton county municipal court.

(G) "A municipal corporation in which a municipal court is located" includes each municipal corporation named in section 1901.01 of the Revised Code, but does not include one in which a judge sits pursuant to any provision of section 1901.021 of the Revised Code except division (M) of that section.

Last updated July 8, 2022 at 10:29 AM

Section 1901.031 | Terms include housing or environmental division of municipal court.

• Effective: July 8, 1991
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 119th General Assembly

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, "municipal court" includes the housing or environmental division of the municipal court, and "judge" includes the judge of the housing or environmental division of the municipal court, as created by section 1901.011 of the Revised Code.

Section 1901.04 | Transfer of pending actions.

• Effective: December 18, 2002
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 124th General Assembly

Upon the institution of a municipal court other than the Brown county municipal court or the Morrow county municipal court, the jurisdiction of the mayor in all civil and criminal causes terminates within the municipal corporation in which the municipal court is located. The institution of the Brown county municipal court or the Morrow county municipal court does not terminate or affect the jurisdiction of the mayor of Georgetown or the mayor of Mount Gilead, respectively, in any civil or criminal cause. Upon the institution of either court, the mayor of Georgetown and the mayor of Mount Gilead retain jurisdiction in causes as described in section 1905.01 of the Revised Code. Those mayors shall exercise that jurisdiction concurrently with the municipal court. Upon the institution of a municipal court, all mayors of municipal corporations within the territory other than the municipal corporation in which the court is located may retain any jurisdiction that is now provided in all criminal causes involving violation of ordinances of their respective municipal corporations and in all criminal causes involving moving traffic violations occurring on state highways located within their respective municipal corporations, to be exercised concurrently with the municipal court.

Upon the institution of a municipal court, the jurisdiction of county courts in all civil and criminal causes terminates in any township or municipal corporation that is entirely within the territory.

Upon the institution of a municipal court, all causes, judgments, executions, and proceedings then pending in courts of mayors and county courts within the territory as to which their jurisdiction is terminated by this section shall proceed in the municipal court as if originally instituted in the municipal court. The parties may make any amendments to their pleadings that are required to conform to the rules of the municipal court.

In all cases over which the municipal court is given jurisdiction and for which the jurisdiction of county courts and the courts of mayors is terminated by this section upon the institution of the municipal court, the pleadings, orders, entries, dockets, bonds, papers, records, books, exhibits, files, moneys, property, and persons that belong to, are in the possession of, or are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of mayors or county courts or any officer of either court and that are in any municipal corporation or township which is entirely within the territory of a municipal court shall be transferred by their custodian to the municipal court. If a part of any township that was within the jurisdiction of a county court is included within the territory of a municipal court, all pleadings, orders, entries, dockets, bonds, papers, records, books, exhibits, files, moneys, property, and persons that belong to, are in the possession of, or are subject to the jurisdiction of the county court or any officer of the county court and that pertain to causes, judgments, executions, and proceedings then pending in the county court and arising from the court's jurisdiction in that part of the township within the territory of the municipal court shall be transferred by their custodian to the municipal court.

The termination of a municipal court reinstates the jurisdiction of the mayor of the municipal corporation in which the terminated municipal court was located, if the jurisdiction of the mayor was terminated by this section.

Section 1901.041 | Assignment and referral of cases to special divisions of court.

• Effective: September 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 21, House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as authorized by or provided in division (B) of section 1901.181 of the Revised Code, all cases filed after the institution of a housing or environmental division of a municipal court and over which the division has jurisdiction shall be assigned by the administrative judge of the municipal court to the judge of the division. Any cases pending in the municipal court at the time the division is instituted and over which the division has jurisdiction shall be reassigned to the judge of the division, if the administrative judge determines that reassignment will not delay the trial of the case and that reassignment is in the best interests of the parties.

(B) The Hamilton county municipal court may refer a case to the drug court judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county if the case is of a type that is eligible for admission into the drug court under the local rule adopted by the court of common pleas under division (B)(3) of section 2301.03 of the Revised Code.

Last updated August 7, 2023 at 2:26 PM

Section 1901.051 | Housing and environmental division judges election.

• Effective: July 8, 1991
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 119th General Assembly

(A) The housing division of the Cleveland municipal court shall consist of one full-time judge. The judge of the housing division shall be elected specifically as the housing division judge and shall be the judge of the Cleveland municipal court whose term began January 2, 1978, and his successors.

(B) The housing division of the Toledo municipal court shall consist of one full-time judge. The judge of the housing division shall be elected specifically as the housing division judge and shall be the judge of the Toledo municipal court whose term begins January 1, 1988, and his successors.

(C) The environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court shall consist of one full-time judge. The judge of the environmental division shall be elected specifically as the environmental division judge and shall be the judge of the Franklin county municipal court whose term begins January 8, 1992, and his successors.

Section 1901.06 | Qualifications and election of judge.

• Effective: April 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 202 - 134th General Assembly

(A) A municipal judge during the judge's term of office shall be a qualified elector and a resident of the territory of the court to which the judge is elected or appointed. A municipal judge shall have been admitted to the practice of law in this state for at least one year preceding appointment or the commencement of the judge's term and, for a total of at least six years preceding appointment or the commencement of the judge's term, shall have either served as a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the United States or done any of the following:

(1) Engaged in the practice of law in this state;

(2) Practiced in a federal court in this state, regardless of whether at the time of that practice the person was admitted to the practice of law in this state or practiced in the courts of this state;

(3) Engaged in the authorized practice of law as in-house counsel for a business in this state or as an attorney for a government entity in this state, regardless of whether at the time of that practice the person was admitted to the practice of law in this state or practiced in the courts of this state.

(B) Except as provided in section 1901.08 of the Revised Code, the first election of any newly created office of a municipal judge shall be held at the next regular municipal election occurring not less than one hundred days after the creation of the office. Except as otherwise provided in division (G) of section 1901.01 of the Revised Code, the institution of a new municipal court shall take place on the first day of January next after the first election for the court.

Last updated March 3, 2023 at 2:06 PM

Section 1901.07 | Term of office of judge - nomination, election.

• Effective: September 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 21, House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) All municipal court judges shall be elected on the nonpartisan ballot for terms of six years. In a municipal court in which only one judge is to be elected in any one year, that judge's term commences on the first day of January after the election. In a municipal court in which two or more judges are to be elected in any one year, their terms commence on successive days beginning the first day of January, following the election, unless otherwise provided by section 1901.08 of the Revised Code.

(B) All candidates for municipal court judge may be nominated either by nominating petition or by primary election, except that if the jurisdiction of a municipal court extends only to the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which the court is located and that municipal corporation operates under a charter, all candidates shall be nominated in the same manner provided in the charter for the office of municipal court judge or, if no specific provisions are made in the charter for the office of municipal court judge, in the same manner as the charter prescribes for the nomination and election of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation.

If the jurisdiction of a municipal court extends beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located or if the jurisdiction of the court does not extend beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located and no charter provisions apply, all candidates for party nomination to the office of municipal court judge shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition not later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the primary election in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 of the Revised Code. The petition shall conform to the requirements provided for those petitions of candidacy contained in section 3513.05 of the Revised Code, except that the petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. If no valid declaration of candidacy is filed for nomination as a candidate of a political party for election to the office of municipal court judge, or if the number of persons filing the declarations of candidacy for nominations as candidates of one political party for election to the office does not exceed the number of candidates that that party is entitled to nominate as its candidates for election to the office, no primary election shall be held for the purpose of nominating candidates of that party for election to the office, and the candidates shall be issued certificates of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

If the jurisdiction of a municipal court extends beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located or if the jurisdiction of the court does not extend beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation in which it is located and no charter provisions apply, nonpartisan candidates for the office of municipal court judge shall file nominating petitions not later than four p.m. of the day before the day of the primary election in the form prescribed by section 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The petition shall conform to the requirements provided for those petitions of candidacy contained in section 3513.257 of the Revised Code, except that the petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court.

The nominating petition or declaration of candidacy for a municipal court judge shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, the candidacies of the judges nominated shall be submitted to the electors of the territory on a nonpartisan, judicial ballot in the same manner as provided for judges of the court of common pleas, except that, in a municipal corporation operating under a charter, all candidates for municipal court judge shall be elected in conformity with the charter if provisions are made in the charter for the election of municipal court judges.

(C) Notwithstanding divisions (A) and (B) of this section, in the following municipal courts, the judges shall be nominated and elected as follows:

(1) In the Cleveland municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Cleveland for filing petitions of candidates for municipal offices. Each elector shall have the right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to be elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.

(2) In the Toledo municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Toledo for filing nominating petitions for city council. Each elector shall have the right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to be elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.

(3) In the Akron municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. It shall be in statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Akron for filing nominating petitions of candidates for municipal offices. Each elector shall have the right to sign petitions for as many candidates as are to be elected, but no more. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.

(4) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least one hundred electors of the judicial district of the county from which the candidate seeks election, which petitions shall be signed and filed not later than four p.m. of the day before the day of the primary election in the form prescribed by section 3513.261 of the Revised Code. Unless otherwise provided in this section, the petition shall conform to the requirements provided for nominating petitions in section 3513.257 of the Revised Code. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the relative judicial district of the county at the regular municipal election and in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.

(5) In the Franklin county municipal court, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petition shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court. The petition shall be in the statutory form and shall be filed in the manner and within the time prescribed by the charter of the city of Columbus for filing petitions of candidates for municipal offices. The judges shall be elected by the electors of the territory of the court in the manner provided by law for the election of judges of the court of common pleas.

(6) In the Auglaize, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Crawford, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Madison, Miami, Morrow, Paulding, Perry, Putnam, and Wayne county municipal courts, the judges shall be nominated only by petition. The petitions shall be signed by at least fifty electors of the territory of the court and shall conform to the provisions of this section.

(D) In the Portage county municipal court, the judges shall be nominated either by nominating petition or by primary election, as provided in division (B) of this section.

(E) As used in this section, as to an election for either a full or an unexpired term, "the territory within the jurisdiction of the court" means that territory as it will be on the first day of January after the election.

Last updated August 7, 2023 at 2:27 PM

Section 1901.08 | Election of judges.

• Effective: September 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 21, House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

The number of, and the time for election of, judges of the following municipal courts and the beginning of their terms shall be as follows:

In the Akron municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1951, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1953, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1967, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Alliance municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Ashland municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Ashtabula municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Athens county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1967.

In the Auglaize county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Avon Lake municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2017. On and after September 15, 2014, the part-time judge of the Avon Lake municipal court who was elected in 2011 shall serve as a full-time judge of the court until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 2017.

In the Barberton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1969, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Bedford municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1979.

In the Bellefontaine municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1993.

In the Bellevue municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Berea municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005.

In the Bowling Green municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1983.

In the Brown county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005. Beginning February 9, 2003, the part-time judge of the Brown county county court that existed prior to that date whose term commenced on January 2, 2001, shall serve as the full-time judge of the Brown county municipal court until December 31, 2005.

In the Bryan municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1965.

In the Cambridge municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Campbell municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Canton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1969, and two full-time judges shall be elected in 1977.

In the Carroll county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2009. Beginning January 1, 2007, the judge elected in 2006 to the part-time judgeship of the Carroll county county court that existed prior to that date shall serve as the full-time judge of the Carroll county municipal court until December 31, 2009.

In the Celina municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Champaign county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2001.

In the Chardon municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Chillicothe municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977.

In the Circleville municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Clark county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1989, and two full-time judges shall be elected in 1991. The full-time judges of the Springfield municipal court who were elected in 1983 and 1985 shall serve as the judges of the Clark county municipal court from January 1, 1988, until the end of their respective terms.

In the Clermont county municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1991, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1999.

In the Cleveland municipal court, six full-time judges shall be elected in 1975, three full-time judges shall be elected in 1953, and four full-time judges shall be elected in 1955.

In the Cleveland Heights municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Clinton county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1997. The full-time judge of the Wilmington municipal court who was elected in 1991 shall serve as the judge of the Clinton county municipal court from July 1, 1992, until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 1997.

In the Columbiana county municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 2001.

In the Conneaut municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Coshocton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Crawford county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977.

In the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1967. Effective December 31, 2008, the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall cease to exist; however, the judges of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court who were elected pursuant to this section in 2003 and 2007 for terms beginning on January 1, 2004, and January 1, 2008, respectively, shall serve as full-time judges of the Stow municipal court until December 31, 2009, and December 31, 2013, respectively.

In the Darke county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005. Beginning January 1, 2005, the part-time judge of the Darke county county court that existed prior to that date whose term began on January 1, 2001, shall serve as the full-time judge of the Darke county municipal court until December 31, 2005.

In the Dayton municipal court, three full-time judges shall be elected in 1987, their terms to commence on successive days beginning on the first day of January next after their election, and two full-time judges shall be elected in 1955, their terms to commence on successive days beginning on the second day of January next after their election.

In the Defiance municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Delaware municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 2007.

In the East Cleveland municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Eaton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1973.

In the Elyria municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1955, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1973.

In the Erie county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2007.

In the Euclid municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Fairborn municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 2023.

In the Fairfield county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2003, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005.

In the Fairfield municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1989.

In the Findlay municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1955, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1993.

In the Franklin municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Franklin county municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1969, three full-time judges shall be elected in 1971, seven full-time judges shall be elected in 1967, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1991, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1997.

In the Fremont municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Fulton county municipal court to be established on January 1, 2024, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2023.

In the Gallipolis municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1981.

In the Garfield Heights municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1981.

In the Girard municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Hamilton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Hamilton county municipal court, five full-time judges shall be elected in 1967, five full-time judges shall be elected in 1971, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1981, and two full-time judges shall be elected in 1983. All terms of judges of the Hamilton county municipal court shall commence on the first day of January next after their election, except that the terms of the additional judges to be elected in 1981 shall commence on January 2, 1982, and January 3, 1982, and that the terms of the additional judges to be elected in 1983 shall commence on January 4, 1984, and January 5, 1984.

In the Hardin county municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1989.

In the Hillsboro municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2011. On and after December 30, 2008, the part-time judge of the Hillsboro municipal court who was elected in 2005 shall serve as a full-time judge of the court until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 2011.

In the Hocking county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977.

In the Holmes county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2007. Beginning January 1, 2007, the part-time judge of the Holmes county county court that existed prior to that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2007, shall serve as the full-time judge of the Holmes county municipal court until December 31, 2007.

In the Huron municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1967.

In the Ironton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Jackson county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2001. On and after March 31, 1997, the part-time judge of the Jackson county municipal court who was elected in 1995 shall serve as a full-time judge of the court until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 2001.

In the Kettering municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Lakewood municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1955.

In the Lancaster municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1979. Beginning January 2, 2000, the full-time judges of the Lancaster municipal court who were elected in 1997 and 1999 shall serve as judges of the Fairfield county municipal court until the end of those judges' terms.

In the Lawrence county municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1981.

In the Lebanon municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1955.

In the Licking county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Lima municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1967.

In the Lorain municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1973.

In the Lyndhurst municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Madison county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1981.

In the Mansfield municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1969.

In the Marietta municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Marion municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Marysville municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2011. On and after January 18, 2007, the part-time judge of the Marysville municipal court who was elected in 2005 shall serve as a full-time judge of the court until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 2011.

In the Mason municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1965.

In the Massillon municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Maumee municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Medina municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Mentor municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Miami county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1979.

In the Miamisburg municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Middletown municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Montgomery county municipal court:

One judge shall be elected in 2011 to a part-time judgeship for a term to begin on January 1, 2012. If any one of the other judgeships of the court becomes vacant and is abolished after July 1, 2010, this judgeship shall become a full-time judgeship on that date. If only one other judgeship of the court becomes vacant and is abolished as of December 31, 2021, this judgeship shall be abolished as of that date. Beginning July 1, 2010, the part-time judge of the Montgomery county county court that existed before that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2005, shall serve as a part-time judge of the Montgomery county municipal court until December 31, 2011.

One judge shall be elected in 2011 to a full-time judgeship for a term to begin on January 2, 2012, and this judgeship shall be abolished on January 1, 2016. Beginning July 1, 2010, the part-time judge of the Montgomery county county court that existed before that date whose term commenced on January 2, 2005, shall serve as a full-time judge of the Montgomery county municipal court until January 1, 2012.

One judge shall be elected in 2013 to a full-time judgeship for a term to begin on January 2, 2014. Beginning July 1, 2010, the part-time judge of the Montgomery county county court that existed before that date whose term commenced on January 2, 2007, shall serve as a full-time judge of the Montgomery county municipal court until January 1, 2014.

One judge shall be elected in 2013 to a judgeship for a term to begin on January 1, 2014. If no other judgeship of the court becomes vacant and is abolished by January 1, 2014, this judgeship shall be a part-time judgeship. When one or more of the other judgeships of the court becomes vacant and is abolished after July 1, 2010, this judgeship shall become a full-time judgeship. Beginning July 1, 2010, the part-time judge of the Montgomery county county court that existed before that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2007, shall serve as this judge of the Montgomery county municipal court until December 31, 2013.

If any one of the judgeships of the court becomes vacant before December 31, 2021, that judgeship is abolished on the date that it becomes vacant, and the other judges of the court shall be or serve as full-time judges. The abolishment of judgeships for the Montgomery county municipal court shall cease when the court has two full-time judgeships.

In the Morrow county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005. Beginning January 1, 2003, the part-time judge of the Morrow county county court that existed prior to that date shall serve as the full-time judge of the Morrow county municipal court until December 31, 2005.

In the Mount Vernon municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Napoleon municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2005.

In the New Philadelphia municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Newton Falls municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Niles municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Norwalk municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975.

In the Oakwood municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Oberlin municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1989.

In the Oregon municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Ottawa county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1995, and the full-time judge of the Port Clinton municipal court who is elected in 1989 shall serve as the judge of the Ottawa county municipal court from February 4, 1994, until the end of that judge's term.

In the Painesville municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Parma municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1967, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Paulding county municipal court to be established on January 1, 2020, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2019.

In the Perry county municipal court to be established on January 1, 2018, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2017.

In the Perrysburg municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977.

In the Portage county municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1979, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Port Clinton municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953. The full-time judge of the Port Clinton municipal court who is elected in 1989 shall serve as the judge of the Ottawa county municipal court from February 4, 1994, until the end of that judge's term.

In the Portsmouth municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1985.

In the Putnam county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2011. Beginning January 1, 2011, the part-time judge of the Putnam county county court that existed prior to that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2007, shall serve as the full-time judge of the Putnam county municipal court until December 31, 2011.

In the Rocky River municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Sandusky municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Shaker Heights municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Shelby municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Sidney municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1995.

In the South Euclid municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1999. The part-time judge elected in 1993, whose term commenced on January 1, 1994, shall serve until December 31, 1999, and the office of that judge is abolished on January 1, 2000.

In the Springfield municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1985, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1983, all of whom shall serve as the judges of the Springfield municipal court through December 31, 1987, and as the judges of the Clark county municipal court from January 1, 1988, until the end of their respective terms.

In the Steubenville municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

In the Stow municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2009, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 2013. Beginning January 1, 2009, the judge of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court that existed prior to that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2008, shall serve as a full-time judge of the Stow municipal court until December 31, 2013. Beginning January 1, 2009, the judge of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court that existed prior to that date whose term commenced on January 1, 2004, shall serve as a full-time judge of the Stow municipal court until December 31, 2009.

In the Struthers municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Sylvania municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1963.

In the Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2013.

In the Toledo municipal court, two full-time judges shall be elected in 1971, four full-time judges shall be elected in 1975, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1973.

In the Upper Sandusky municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 2011. The part-time judge elected in 2005, whose term commenced on January 1, 2006, shall serve as a full-time judge on and after January 1, 2008, until the expiration of that judge's term on December 31, 2011, and the office of that judge is abolished on January 1, 2012.

In the Vandalia municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1959.

In the Van Wert municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1957.

In the Vermilion municipal court, one part-time judge shall be elected in 1965.

In the Wadsworth municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1981.

In the Warren municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1971.

In the Washington Court House municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1999. The part-time judge elected in 1993, whose term commenced on January 1, 1994, shall serve until December 31, 1999, and the office of that judge is abolished on January 1, 2000.

In the Wayne county municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1975, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 1979.

In the Willoughby municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951.

In the Wilmington municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1991, who shall serve as the judge of the Wilmington municipal court through June 30, 1992, and as the judge of the Clinton county municipal court from July 1, 1992, until the end of that judge's term on December 31, 1997.

In the Xenia municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1977.

In the Youngstown municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1951, and one full-time judge shall be elected in 2013.

In the Zanesville municipal court, one full-time judge shall be elected in 1953.

Last updated August 7, 2023 at 2:28 PM

Section 1901.09 | Presiding and administrative judge.

• Effective: August 3, 1999
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 89 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) In a municipal court having only one judge, that judge shall be designated as both the presiding judge and the administrative judge.

(B) In a municipal court having two or more judges, the presiding and administrative judge shall be elected or designated as provided in the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio.

Section 1901.10 | Oath of office required - vacancy.

• Effective: July 10, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 261 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The judges of a municipal court and officers of the court shall take an oath of office as provided in section 3.23 of the Revised Code.

(B) The office of judge of a municipal court is subject to forfeiture, and the judge may be removed from office, for the causes and by the procedure provided in sections 3.07 to 3.10 of the Revised Code. A vacancy in the office of judge exists upon the death, resignation, forfeiture, removal from office, or absence from official duties for a period of six consecutive months, as determined under this section, of the judge and also by reason of the expiration of the term of an incumbent when no successor has been elected or qualified. A vacancy resulting from the absence of a judge from official duties for a period of six consecutive months shall be determined and declared by the legislative authority.

(C)(1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of judge or clerk of the municipal court after the one-hundredth day before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May and prior to the fortieth day before the day of the general election, all candidates for election to the unexpired term of the judge or clerk shall file nominating petitions with the board of elections not later than four p.m. on the tenth day following the day on which the vacancy occurs, except that, when the vacancy occurs fewer than six days before the fortieth day before the general election, the deadline for filing shall be four p.m. on the thirty-sixth day before the day of the general election.

(2) Each nominating petition referred to in division (C)(1) of this section shall be in the form prescribed in section 3513.261 of the Revised Code and shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the municipal court. No nominating petition shall be accepted for filing or filed if it appears on its face to contain signatures aggregating in number more than twice the minimum aggregate number of signatures required by this section.

Section 1901.11 | Compensation.

• Effective: December 18, 2002
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 124th General Assembly

(A)(1) Beginning July 1, 1997, judges designated as part-time judges by section 1901.08 of the Revised Code, other than part-time judges to whom division (B)(1)(a) of this section applies, shall receive as compensation thirty-five thousand five hundred dollars each year in addition to the compensation payable from the state treasury under division (A)(6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code.

(2) Part-time judges shall be disqualified from the practice of law only as to matters pending or originating in the courts in which they serve during their terms of office.

(B)(1)(a) Judges designated as full-time judges by section 1901.08 of the Revised Code, and all judges of territories having a population of more than fifty thousand regardless of designation, are subject to section 4705.01 of the Revised Code and, pursuant to division (C) of this section, beginning July 1, 1997, shall receive as compensation sixty-one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars per annum.

(b) These judges also shall receive, in accordance with division (B) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code, the compensation described in division (A)(5) of that section from the state treasury.

(2) The presiding judge of a municipal court who is also the administrative judge of the court, shall receive, pursuant to division (C) of this section, an additional one thousand five hundred dollars per annum.

(C) The compensation of municipal judges that is described in divisions (A)(1) and (B)(1)(a) and (2) of this section may be paid in either biweekly installments or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, three-fifths of the amount being payable from the city treasury and two-fifths of the amount being payable from the treasury of the county in which the municipal corporation is situated, except that all of the compensation of the judges of a county-operated municipal court that is described in divisions (A)(1) and (B)(1)(a) and (2) of this section shall be payable out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located. If the territory is located in two or more counties, a total of two-fifths of the amount that is described in divisions (A)(1) and (B)(1)(a) and (2) of this section shall be payable by all of the counties in proportionate shares from the treasury of each of the counties in accordance with the respective populations of that portion of each of the several counties within the jurisdiction of the court.

(D) No municipal judge shall hold any other office of trust or profit under the authority of this state or the United States.

(E) As used in this section, "compensation" does not include any portion of the cost, premium, or charge for sickness and accident insurance or other coverage of hospitalization, surgical care, major medical care, disability, dental care, eye care, medical care, hearing aids, and prescription drugs, or any combination of those benefits or services, covering a judge of a municipal court and paid on the judge's behalf by a governmental entity.

Last updated May 12, 2021 at 11:34 AM

Section 1901.111 | Group health care coverage for municipal court judges.

• Effective: June 4, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 67 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "health care coverage" means sickness and accident insurance or other coverage of hospitalization, surgical care, major medical care, disability, dental care, eye care, medical care, hearing aids, and prescription drugs, or any combination of those benefits or services.

(B) The legislative authority, after consultation with the judges of the municipal court, shall negotiate and contract for, purchase, or otherwise procure group health care coverage for the judges and their spouses and dependents from insurance companies authorized to engage in the business of insurance in this state under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code or health insuring corporations holding certificates of authority under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code, except that if the county or municipal corporation served by the legislative authority provides group health care coverage for its employees, the group health care coverage required by this section shall be provided, if possible, through the policy or plan under which the group health care coverage is provided for the county or municipal corporation employees.

(C) The portion of the costs, premiums, or charges for the group health care coverage procured pursuant to division (B) of this section that is not paid by the judges of the municipal court, or all of the costs, premiums, or charges for the group health care coverage if the judges will not be paying any such portion, shall be paid as follows:

(1) If the municipal court is a county-operated municipal court, the portion of the costs, premiums, or charges or all of the costs, premiums, or charges shall be paid out of the treasury of the county.

(2) If the municipal court is not a county-operated municipal court, the portion of the costs, premiums, or charges or all of the costs, premiums, or charges shall be paid in three-fifths and two-fifths shares from the city treasury and appropriate county treasuries as described in division (C) of section 1901.11 of the Revised Code. The three-fifths share of a city treasury is subject to apportionment under section 1901.026 of the Revised Code.

Section 1901.12 | Vacation period of judge.

• Effective: July 10, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 261 - 130th General Assembly

(A) A judge of a municipal court is entitled to thirty days of vacation in each calendar year. Not less than two hundred forty days of open session of the municipal court shall be held by each judge during the year, unless all business of the court is disposed of sooner.

(B) If a municipal court consists of two or more judges, the presiding judge shall have the authority to designate the vacation period for each judge.

Section 1901.121 | Appointment of assigned and substitute judges.

• Effective: March 23, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 210 - 134th General Assembly

(A)(1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a judge of a municipal court that consists of only one judge or if the judge of a municipal court of that nature is incapacitated or unavailable due to disqualification, suspension, or recusal, the chief justice of the supreme court may assign a sitting judge of another court of record or a retired judge of a court of record to temporarily serve on the court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court pursuant to division (A)(1) of Section 5 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The assignee shall be styled "assigned judge" and shall serve for any period of time the chief justice may prescribe.

(2) If a judge of a municipal court that consists of only one judge is otherwise temporarily absent for a reason other than as specified in division (A)(1) of this section, the judge may do either of the following:

(a) Appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of the court or appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of a municipal or county court that is contiguous to the court. The appointee shall either be admitted to the practice of law in this state and have been, for a total of at least six years preceding appointment, engaged in the practice of law in this state or a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the United States or be a retired judge of a court of record. The appointee shall be styled "acting judge" and shall temporarily serve on the court during the temporary absence of the incumbent judge.

(b) Request the chief justice of the supreme court to assign a sitting judge of another court of record or a retired judge of a court of record to temporarily serve on the court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court pursuant to division (A)(1) of Section 5 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The assignee shall be styled "assigned judge" and shall serve for any period of time the chief justice may prescribe.

(B) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a judge of a municipal court that consists of two judges or if a judge of a municipal court of that nature is incapacitated, unavailable, or temporarily absent, the presiding judge may do either of the following:

(1) Appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of the court or appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of a municipal or county court that is contiguous to the court. The appointee shall either be admitted to the practice of law in this state and have been, for a total of at least six years preceding appointment, engaged in the practice of law in this state or a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the United States or be a retired judge of a court of record. The appointee shall be styled "acting judge" and shall temporarily serve on the court during the vacancy or the incapacity, unavailability, or temporary absence of the incumbent judge.

(2) Request the chief justice of the supreme court to assign a sitting judge of another court of record or a retired judge of a court of record to temporarily serve on the court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court pursuant to division (A)(1) of Section 5 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The assignee shall be styled "assigned judge" and shall serve for any period of time the chief justice may prescribe.

(C) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a judge of a municipal court that consists of three or more judges or if a judge of a municipal court of that nature is incapacitated, unavailable, or temporarily absent, the presiding judge may do either of the following:

(1) If no other judge of the court is available to perform the duties of the judge, appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of the court. The appointee shall either be admitted to the practice of law in this state and have been, for a total of at least six years preceding appointment, engaged in the practice of law in this state or a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the United States or be a retired judge of a court of record. The appointee shall be styled "acting judge" and shall temporarily serve on the court during the vacancy or the incapacity, unavailability, or temporary absence of the incumbent judge.

(2) Request the chief justice of the supreme court to assign a sitting judge of another court of record or a retired judge of a court of record to temporarily serve on the court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court pursuant to division (A)(1) of Section 5 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The assignee shall be styled "assigned judge" and shall serve for any period of time the chief justice may prescribe.

(D) When the volume of cases pending in any municipal court necessitates an additional judge, the judge, if the court consists of a single judge, or the presiding judge, if the court consists of two or more judges, may request the chief justice of the supreme court to assign a sitting judge of another court of record or a retired judge of a court of record to temporarily serve on the court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court pursuant to division (A)(1) of Section 5 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The appointee shall be styled "assigned judge" and shall serve for any period of time the chief justice may prescribe.

(E) An acting judge appointed pursuant to division (A)(2)(a), (B)(1), or (C)(1) of this section and an assigned judge assigned pursuant to division (A)(1), (A)(2)(b), (B)(2), (C)(2), or (D) of this section shall have the jurisdiction and adjudicatory powers conferred upon the judge of the municipal court. During the time of service, the acting judge or assigned judge shall sign all process and records and shall perform all acts pertaining to the office, except that of removal and appointment of officers of the municipal court. All courts shall take judicial notice of the selection and powers of the acting judge or assigned judge.

Last updated February 8, 2023 at 12:52 PM

Section 1901.122 | Reimbursements and compensation; limitations.

• Effective: July 10, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 261 - 130th General Assembly

(A)(1) An acting judge appointed pursuant to division (A)(2)(a), (B)(1), or (C)(1) of section 1901.121 of the Revised Code shall receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses and a per diem compensation established by the incumbent judge, subject to the following limitations:

(a) If the incumbent judge receives compensation as described in division (A)(5) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code, the per diem compensation of the acting judge shall not exceed the per diem compensation paid to the incumbent judge based upon a work year of two hundred fifty days.

(b) If the incumbent judge receives compensation as described in division (A)(6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code, the per diem compensation of the acting judge shall not exceed the per diem compensation paid to the incumbent judge based upon a work year of one hundred thirty days.

(2) The per diem compensation of the acting judge shall be payable in the same manner as the compensation paid to the incumbent judge during the same period.

(B) An assigned judge assigned pursuant to division (A)(1), (A)(2)(b), (B)(2), (C)(2), or (D) of section 1901.121 of the Revised Code shall receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses and a per diem compensation computed as follows:

(1) If the assigned judge receives compensation as described in division (A)(5) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code, thirty dollars;

(2) If the assigned judge receives compensation as described in division (A)(6) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code, the per diem compensation of a judge of a municipal court compensated as described in division (A)(5) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code, less the per diem compensation of the assigned judge, each calculated on the basis of two hundred fifty working days per year;

(3) If the assigned judge is a retired judge of a municipal or county court or a court of common pleas, the established per diem compensation for a judge of a municipal court compensated as described in division (A)(5) of section 141.04 of the Revised Code, calculated on the basis of two hundred fifty working days per year, in addition to any retirement benefits to which the assigned judge may be entitled;

(4) If the assigned judge is a sitting judge of the court of appeals or a court of common pleas, fifty dollars.

Section 1901.123 | Payment of per diem compensation.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Subject to reimbursement under division (B) of this section, the treasurer of the county in which a county-operated municipal court or other municipal court is located shall pay the per diem compensation to which an acting judge appointed pursuant to division (A)(2)(a), (B)(1), or (C)(1) of section 1901.121 of the Revised Code is entitled pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 1901.122 of the Revised Code.

(2) The treasurer of the county in which a county-operated municipal court or other municipal court is located shall pay the per diem compensation to which an assigned judge assigned pursuant to division (A)(1), (A)(2)(b), (B)(2), (C)(2), or (D) of section 1901.121 of the Revised Code is entitled pursuant to division (B)(1) or (4) of section 1901.122 of the Revised Code.

(3) Subject to reimbursement under division (B) of this section, the treasurer of the county in which a county-operated municipal court or other municipal court is located shall pay the per diem compensation to which an assigned judge assigned pursuant to division (A)(1), (A)(2)(b), (B)(2), (C)(2), or (D) of section 1901.121 of the Revised Code is entitled pursuant to division (B)(2) of section 1901.122 of the Revised Code.

(4) Subject to reimbursement under division (C) of this section, the supreme court shall pay the per diem compensation to which an assigned judge assigned pursuant to division (A)(1), (A)(2)(b), (B)(2), (C)(2), or (D) of section 1901.121 of the Revised Code is entitled pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 1901.122 of the Revised Code.

(B) A county that, pursuant to division (A)(1) or (3) of this section, is required to pay the per diem compensation to which an acting judge or assigned judge is entitled, shall submit to the administrative director of the supreme court quarterly requests for reimbursements of the state portion of the per diem amounts so paid. The requests shall include verifications of the payment of those amounts and an affidavit from the acting judge or assigned judge stating the days and hours worked. The administrative director shall cause reimbursements of the state portion of the per diem amounts paid to be issued to the county if the administrative director verifies that those amounts were, in fact, so paid. If the county fails to submit a request within one year after the per diem compensation was paid, the administrative director shall refuse to cause reimbursement to be issued.

(C) If the supreme court, pursuant to division (A)(4) of this section, is required to pay the per diem compensation to which an assigned judge is entitled, annually, on the first day of August, the administrative director of the supreme court shall issue a billing to the county treasurer of any county to which such a judge was assigned to a municipal court for reimbursement of the county or local portion of the per diem compensation previously paid by the supreme court for the twelve-month period preceding the last day of June. The county or local portion of the per diem compensation shall be that part of each per diem paid by the state which is proportional to the county or local shares of the total compensation of a resident judge of such court. The county treasurer shall forward the payment within thirty days. After forwarding the payment, the county treasurer shall seek reimbursement from the applicable local municipalities as appropriate.

Last updated August 28, 2024 at 4:37 PM

Section 1901.13 | Powers of the court.

• Effective: April 19, 1988
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 708 - 117th General Assembly

(A) In any action or proceeding of which a municipal court has jurisdiction, the court or any judge of the court has the power to do all of the following:

(1) Issue process, preserve order, punish contempts, summon and impanel jurors, refer matters to a referee, set aside a verdict, grant a new trial or motion in arrest of judgment, vacate or modify a judgment, suspend execution of sentence upon filing of notice of appeal, admit the defendant to bail, fix the amount of bond and approve the sureties, inquire into the financial responsibility of proposed sureties on all bonds in both civil and criminal actions or proceedings and, on the motion of any party or on its own motion, require security or additional surety, and to exercise any other powers that are necessary to give effect to the jurisdiction of the court and to enforce its judgments, orders, or decrees;

(2) Issue any necessary orders in any proceedings before and after judgment, for attachment or garnishment, arrest, aid of execution, trial of the right of property, revivor of judgment, and appointment of a receiver of personal property, for which authority is conferred upon the courts of common pleas or a judge of the court of common pleas;

(3) Hear and determine questions of exemptions upon application or action of any party to a pending cause;

(4) Control and distribute all property or the proceeds of property that are levied upon or seized by any legal process issuing from the court and that may come into the hands of its officers, and to order immediate sale of any property of a perishable nature that may come into the hands of an officer of the court upon any process issuing from the court. Any money realized from the sale of property of a perishable nature shall be deposited with the clerk until distributed by order of the court.

(B) Whenever an action or proceeding is properly brought in a municipal court within Cuyahoga county, the court has jurisdiction to determine, preserve, and enforce all rights involved in the action or proceeding, and to hear and determine all legal and equitable remedies necessary or proper for a complete determination of the rights of the parties.

Section 1901.131 | Jurisdiction of housing or environmental division.

• Effective: July 8, 1991
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 119th General Assembly

Whenever an action or proceeding is properly brought in the housing or environmental division of a municipal court, the division has jurisdiction to determine, preserve, and enforce all rights involved in the action or proceeding, to hear and determine all legal and equitable remedies necessary or proper for a complete determination of the rights of the parties, including, but not limited to, the granting of temporary restraining orders and temporary and permanent injunctions, to render personal judgment irrespective of amount in favor of any party, and to render any judgments and make any findings and orders in the same manner and to the same extent that the court of common pleas can render a judgment or make a finding or order in a similar action or proceeding.

Section 1901.14 | Additional powers of judges; fees; rules; annual report.

• Effective: October 31, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 423 - 121st General Assembly

(A) Municipal judges have the following powers and duties:

(1) To perform marriage ceremonies anywhere in this state, take acknowledgment of deeds and other instruments, administer oaths, and perform any other duties that are conferred upon judges of county courts.

All fees, including marriage fees, collected by a municipal judge when not connected with any cause or proceeding pending in the municipal court, shall be paid over to the clerk of the municipal court to be paid to the city treasury, except that, in a county-operated municipal court, the fees shall be paid to the treasury of the county in which the court is located.

(2) To adopt, publish, and revise rules for the regulation of the practice and procedure of their respective courts, and for the selection and manner of summoning persons to serve as jurors in the court;

(3) To adopt, publish, and revise rules relating to the administration of the court;

(4) On or before the last day of March of each year, the court shall render a complete report of its operation during the preceding calendar year to the legislative authority and to the board of county commissioners of each county within its territory. The report shall show the work performed by the court, a statement of receipts and expenditures of the civil and criminal branches, respectively, the number of cases heard, decided, and settled, and any other data that the supreme court, the secretary of state, the legislative authority, and the board of county commissioners requires.

(B) Any rule adopted pursuant to division (A)(2) or (3) of this section does not apply to the housing or environmental division of the municipal court if the judge of the housing or environmental division has adopted rules pursuant to division (C) of this section, unless the rules adopted pursuant to division (C) of this section do not regulate the subject regulated by the rule adopted pursuant to division (A)(2) or (3) of this section.

(C) Judges of the housing or environmental division of a municipal court, other than the judge of the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court, may adopt, publish, and revise rules for the regulation of the practice and procedure of the division, for the selection and manner of summoning persons to serve as jurors in the division, and for the administration of the division.

Last updated June 24, 2021 at 8:03 PM

Section 1901.141 | Special constables.

• Effective: May 18, 2005
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 71 - 125th General Assembly

(A)(1) Upon the written application of the director of administrative services or of at least three freeholders of the territory, a municipal judge may appoint one or more electors who are residents of the county as special constables, but only if either of the following applies:

(a) The territory within the jurisdiction of the municipal court served by the municipal court judge is contiguous to territory within the jurisdiction of a county court, the judge of that county court has appointed a special constable to guard and protect territory abutting territory in the municipal court's jurisdiction, and the abutting territory within the municipal court's jurisdiction is the property within the application for which a special constable is being sought.

(b) The territory within the jurisdiction of the municipal court served by the municipal court judge is coextensive with the boundaries of the county in which the court is located, and the municipal court is a successor court of a county court that previously served that county.

(2) In order to be eligible to serve as a special constable under this section, an elector shall hold a valid certificate issued by the Ohio peace officer training commission.

The special constables shall guard and protect from unlawful acts the property of the state specified in the application or the property of the applicant-freeholders and any property of the state under lease to the applicant-freeholders specified in the application. To the extent necessary to carry out the responsibility to guard and protect the property involved, a special constable shall have the same authority and shall be subject to the same obligations as a peace officer, as defined in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) A municipal judge who appoints a special constable pursuant to division (A) of this section shall make a memorandum of the appointment upon the docket of the court. The appointment shall continue in force for one year unless the judge revokes it before the expiration of that one-year period. The applicant-freeholders for whose benefit a special constable is appointed shall pay the special constable in full for the special constable's services, and the special constable shall receive no compensation except from those applicant-freeholders.

If a municipal judge wishes to reappoint an elector for a successive one-year period, before the elector may be appointed the elector shall have successfully completed a firearms requalification program approved by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general under section 109.743 of the Revised Code.

(C) A municipal judge who appoints a special constable pursuant to division (A) of this section, the municipal court on which the judge sits, the legislative authority associated with that court, and all political subdivisions within the territory of that court are not liable in damages in any tort or other civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly caused by any act or omission of the special constable that relates to the special constable's official responsibility to guard and protect property.

(D) A special constable appointed pursuant to division (A) of this section is not liable in damages in any tort or other civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly caused by an act or omission of the special constable that relates to the special constable's official responsibility to guard and protect property, unless the act or omission was committed or omitted with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner. The state, if the director of administrative services requested the appointment of the special constable, or the applicant-freeholders, if freeholders requested the appointment of the special constable, shall be jointly and severally liable in damages in any tort or other civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by an act or omission of the special constable that was committed or omitted with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner. The state or the applicant-freeholders are not liable in damages in any tort or other civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by any other act or omission of the special constable.

(E) This section does not affect any immunities from civil liability or defenses established or recognized by Chapter 2744. or any other chapter of the Revised Code, or available at common law, to which the state or a municipal judge, municipal court, legislative authority, political subdivision, special constable appointed pursuant to division (A) of this section, or applicant-freeholder may be entitled under circumstances not covered by this section.

Section 1901.15 | Powers of the presiding municipal judge.

• Effective: August 19, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 205 - 111th General Assembly

In addition to the exercise of all the powers of a municipal judge, the presiding municipal judge has the general supervision of the business of the court and may classify and distribute among the judges the business pending in the court. He shall determine the amount and approve the surety and the terms of all official bonds. The presiding municipal judge may appoint a qualified substitute to serve during the disability of an incumbent of any appointive office created by sections 1901.31 to 1901.33 of the Revised Code, who is temporarily absent or incapacitated from acting as such. Any temporary appointee may be dismissed or discharged by the presiding municipal judge.

Section 1901.151 | Notice of insufficient caseload.

• Effective: July 8, 1991
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 119th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in divisions (B) and (C) of this section, upon a determination by the judge of the housing or environmental division of a municipal court that the volume of cases pending in the division does not constitute a sufficient caseload for the judge, the judge shall notify the administrative judge of the municipal court of the insufficient caseload in the division. After receipt of the notification, the administrative judge, in accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Municipal Courts and County Courts, shall assign individual cases to the judge of the division from the general docket of the court, but, except in the case of the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court, the administrative judge shall not assign the judge of a housing or environmental division to a particular session of the court. The administrative judge shall continue to make the assignments until notified by the judge of the division to discontinue making the assignments.

(B) If the administrative judge of the Toledo municipal court determines that the volume of cases pending in the housing division of the court does not constitute a sufficient caseload for the judge of the division, the administrative judge, in accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Municipal Courts and County Courts, shall make assignments to the judge of the division. If assignments so occur, the administrative judge shall cease the assignments when he determines that the volume of cases pending in the division constitutes a sufficient caseload for the judge of the division.

(C) If the administrative judge of the Franklin county municipal court determines that the volume of cases pending in the environmental division of the court does not constitute a sufficient caseload for the judge of the division, the administrative judge, in accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Municipal Courts and County Courts, shall make assignments to the judge of the division and may assign the judge of the division to a particular session of the court. If assignments so occur, the administrative judge shall cease the assignments when he determines that the volume of cases pending in the division constitutes a sufficient caseload for the judge of the division.

Section 1901.16 | Powers when more than one judge.

• Effective: August 19, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 205 - 111th General Assembly

When a municipal court consists of more than one judge:

(A) The several municipal judges may sit separately or otherwise, as the presiding judge directs, and shall meet at least once each month, and at such other times as are determined, for consideration of the business of the court.

(B) Any order made by the presiding judge under the special powers conferred upon him may be vacated, amended, or modified by the vote of a majority of the judges of the court.

(C) The administrative authority vested in judges constituting a municipal court shall be exercised by a majority vote of such judges, including the presiding judge.

Last updated February 25, 2022 at 5:50 PM

Section 1901.17 | Monetary jurisdiction.

• Effective: January 1, 1997
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 438 - 121st General Assembly

A municipal court shall have original jurisdiction only in those cases in which the amount claimed by any party, or the appraised value of the personal property sought to be recovered, does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars, except that this limit does not apply to the housing division or environmental division of a municipal court.

Judgment may be rendered in excess of the jurisdictional amount, when the excess consists of interest, damages for the detention of personal property, or costs accrued after the commencement of the action.

This section does not limit the jurisdiction of a municipal court to appoint trustees to receive and distribute earnings in accordance with section 2329.70 of the Revised Code.

Section 1901.18 | Subject matter jurisdiction.

• Effective: July 3, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 62 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this division or section 1901.181 of the Revised Code, subject to the monetary jurisdiction of municipal courts as set forth in section 1901.17 of the Revised Code, a municipal court has original jurisdiction within its territory in all of the following actions or proceedings and to perform all of the following functions:

(1) In any civil action, of whatever nature or remedy, of which judges of county courts have jurisdiction;

(2) In any action or proceeding at law for the recovery of money or personal property of which the court of common pleas has jurisdiction;

(3) In any action at law based on contract, to determine, preserve, and enforce all legal and equitable rights involved in the contract, to decree an accounting, reformation, or cancellation of the contract, and to hear and determine all legal and equitable remedies necessary or proper for a complete determination of the rights of the parties to the contract;

(4) In any action or proceeding for the sale of personal property under chattel mortgage, lien, encumbrance, or other charge, for the foreclosure and marshalling of liens on personal property of that nature, and for the rendering of personal judgment in the action or proceeding;

(5) In any action or proceeding to enforce the collection of its own judgments or the judgments rendered by any court within the territory to which the municipal court has succeeded, and to subject the interest of a judgment debtor in personal property to satisfy judgments enforceable by the municipal court;

(6) In any action or proceeding in the nature of interpleader;

(7) In any action of replevin;

(8) In any action of forcible entry and detainer;

(9) In any action concerning the issuance and enforcement of temporary protection orders pursuant to section 2919.26 of the Revised Code or protection orders pursuant to section 2903.213 of the Revised Code or the enforcement of protection orders issued by courts of another state, as defined in section 2919.27 of the Revised Code;

(10) If the municipal court has a housing or environmental division, in any action over which the division is given jurisdiction by section 1901.181 of the Revised Code, provided that, except as specified in division (B) of that section, no judge of the court other than the judge of the division shall hear or determine any action over which the division has jurisdiction;

(11) In any action brought pursuant to division (I) of section 4781.40 of the Revised Code, if the residential premises that are the subject of the action are located within the territorial jurisdiction of the court;

(12) In any civil action as described in division (B)(1) of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code that relates to a public nuisance, and, to the extent any provision of this chapter conflicts or is inconsistent with a provision of that section, the provision of that section shall control in the civil action;

(13) In a proceeding brought pursuant to section 955.222 of the Revised Code by the owner of a dog that has been designated as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog;

(14) In every civil action concerning a violation of a state traffic law or a municipal traffic ordinance.

(B) The Cleveland municipal court also shall have jurisdiction within its territory in all of the following actions or proceedings and to perform all of the following functions:

(1) In all actions and proceedings for the sale of real property under lien of a judgment of the municipal court or a lien for machinery, material, or fuel furnished or labor performed, irrespective of amount, and, in those actions and proceedings, the court may proceed to foreclose and marshal all liens and all vested or contingent rights, to appoint a receiver, and to render personal judgment irrespective of amount in favor of any party.

(2) In all actions for the foreclosure of a mortgage on real property given to secure the payment of money or the enforcement of a specific lien for money or other encumbrance or charge on real property, when the amount claimed by the plaintiff does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars and the real property is situated within the territory, and, in those actions, the court may proceed to foreclose all liens and all vested and contingent rights and may proceed to render judgments and make findings and orders between the parties in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar actions in the court of common pleas.

(3) In all actions for the recovery of real property situated within the territory to the same extent as courts of common pleas have jurisdiction;

(4) In all actions for injunction to prevent or terminate violations of the ordinances and regulations of the city of Cleveland enacted or promulgated under the police power of the city of Cleveland, pursuant to Section 3 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, over which the court of common pleas has or may have jurisdiction, and, in those actions, the court may proceed to render judgments and make findings and orders in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar actions in the court of common pleas.

(C) As used in this section, "violation of a state traffic law or a municipal traffic ordinance" has the same meaning as in section 1901.20 of the Revised Code.

Section 1901.181 | Exclusive and concurrent jurisdiction of housing or environmental divisions.

• Effective: September 23, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 518 - 134th General Assembly

(A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division and division (A)(2) of this section and subject to division (B) of this section, if a municipal court has a housing or environmental division, the division has exclusive jurisdiction within the territory of the court in any civil action to enforce any local building, housing, air pollution, sanitation, health, fire, zoning, or safety code, ordinance, or regulation applicable to premises used or intended for use as a place of human habitation, buildings, structures, or any other real property subject to any such code, ordinance, or regulation, and, except in the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court, in any civil action commenced pursuant to Chapter 1923. or 5321. or sections 5303.03 to 5303.07 of the Revised Code. Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section and subject to section 1901.20 of the Revised Code and to division (B) of this section, the housing or environmental division of a municipal court has exclusive jurisdiction within the territory of the court in any criminal action for a violation of any local building, housing, air pollution, sanitation, health, fire, zoning, or safety code, ordinance, or regulation applicable to premises used or intended for use as a place of human habitation, buildings, structures, or any other real property subject to any such code, ordinance, or regulation. Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section and subject to division (B) of this section, the housing or environmental division of a municipal court also has exclusive jurisdiction within the territory of the court in any civil action as described in division (B)(1) of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code that relates to a public nuisance. To the extent any provision of this chapter conflicts or is inconsistent with a provision of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code, the provision of that section shall control in a civil action described in division (B)(1) of that section.

(2) If a municipal court has an environmental division, if the mayor of any municipal corporation within the territory of the municipal court conducts a mayor's court, and if any action described in division (A)(1) of this section as being within the jurisdiction of the environmental division otherwise is within the jurisdiction of the mayor's court, as set forth in section 1905.01 of the Revised Code, the jurisdiction of the environmental division over the action is concurrent with the jurisdiction of that mayor's court over the action.

(B)(1) If the judge of the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court or the judge of the housing division of a municipal court is on vacation, sick, absent, or is unavailable because of recusal or another reason, the administrative judge of the court, in accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Municipal Courts and County Courts, shall assign another judge or judges of the court to handle any action or proceeding or, if necessary, all actions and proceedings of the division during the time that its judge is unavailable.

(2) The Franklin county municipal court may adopt, by rule, procedures for other judges of the court to handle particular proceedings arising out of actions within the jurisdiction of the environmental division of the court when the judge of that division is unable for any reason to handle a particular proceeding at the time, or within the time period, necessary for a timely or appropriate disposition of the proceeding. Upon the adoption of and in accordance with those rules, any judge of the court may handle any proceeding that arises out of an action within the jurisdiction of the environmental division of the court.

(C) The following are in addition to the jurisdiction granted under division (A) of this section:

(1) The housing division of the Toledo municipal court has jurisdiction within its territory in any review or appeal of any final order of any administrative officer, agency, board, department, tribunal, commission, or other instrumentality that relates to a local building, housing, air pollution, sanitation, health, fire, zoning, or safety code, ordinance, or regulation, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar appeals in the court of common pleas.

(2) The housing division of the Toledo municipal court has concurrent jurisdiction with the court of common pleas in all criminal actions or proceedings related to the pollution of the air, ground, or water within the territory of the municipal court, for which a sentence of death cannot be imposed under Chapter 2903. of the Revised Code.

Last updated July 8, 2022 at 10:30 AM

Section 1901.182 | Jurisdiction over violations of township resolutions.

• Effective: August 17, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 23 - 126th General Assembly

In addition to other jurisdiction granted a municipal court in the Revised Code, a municipal court has jurisdiction over violations of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code. For procedural purposes, a case in which a person is charged with a violation of a township resolution shall be treated as a civil case, except as otherwise provided in the Revised Code and except that a violation of a township resolution that is adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 of the Revised Code and that creates a criminal offense or imposes criminal penalties shall be treated as a criminal case.

Section 1901.183 | Environmental division additional jurisdiction.

• Effective: March 13, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 130 - 129th General Assembly

In addition to jurisdiction otherwise granted in this chapter, the environmental division of a municipal court shall have jurisdiction within its territory in all of the following actions or proceedings and to perform all of the following functions:

(A) Notwithstanding any monetary limitations in section 1901.17 of the Revised Code, in all actions and proceedings for the sale of real or personal property under lien of a judgment of the environmental division of the municipal court, or a lien for machinery, material, fuel furnished, or labor performed, irrespective of amount, and, in those cases, the environmental division may proceed to foreclose and marshal all liens and all vested or contingent rights, to appoint a receiver, and to render personal judgment irrespective of amount in favor of any party;

(B) When in aid of execution of a judgment of the environmental division of the municipal court, in all actions for the foreclosure of a mortgage on real property given to secure the payment of money, or the enforcement of a specific lien for money or other encumbrance or charge on real property, when the real property is situated within the territory, and, in those cases, the environmental division may proceed to foreclose all liens and all vested and contingent rights and proceed to render judgments, and make findings and orders, between the parties, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar cases in the court of common pleas;

(C) When in aid of execution of a judgment of the environmental division of the municipal court, in all actions for the recovery of real property situated within the territory to the same extent as courts of common pleas have jurisdiction;

(D) In all actions for injunction to prevent or terminate violations of the ordinances and regulations of any municipal corporation within its territory enacted or promulgated under the police power of that municipal corporation pursuant to Section 3 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, over which the court of common pleas has or may have jurisdiction, and, in those cases, the environmental division of the municipal court may proceed to render judgments, and make findings and orders, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar cases in the court of common pleas;

(E) In all actions for injunction to prevent or terminate violations of the resolutions and regulations of any political subdivision within its territory enacted or promulgated under the power of that political subdivision pursuant to Article X of the Ohio Constitution, over which the court of common pleas has or may have jurisdiction, and, in those cases, the environmental division of the municipal court may proceed to render judgments, and make findings and orders, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar cases in the court of common pleas;

(F) In any civil action to enforce any provision of Chapter 3704., 3714., 3734., 3737., 3767., or 6111. of the Revised Code over which the court of common pleas has or may have jurisdiction, and, in those actions, the environmental division of the municipal court may proceed to render judgments, and make findings and orders, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar actions in the court of common pleas;

(G) In all actions and proceedings in the nature of creditors' bills, and in aid of execution to subject the interests of a judgment debtor in real or personal property to the payment of a judgment of the division, and, in those actions and proceedings, the environmental division may proceed to marshal and foreclose all liens on the property irrespective of the amount of the lien, and all vested or contingent rights in the property;

(H) Concurrent jurisdiction with the court of common pleas of all criminal actions or proceedings related to the pollution of the air, ground, or water within the territory of the environmental division of the municipal court, for which a sentence of death cannot be imposed under Chapter 2903. of the Revised Code;

(I) In any review or appeal of any final order of any administrative officer, agency, board, department, tribunal, commission, or other instrumentality that relates to a local building, housing, air pollution, sanitation, health, fire, zoning, or safety code, ordinance, or regulation, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar appeals in the court of common pleas;

(J) With respect to the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court, to hear appeals from adjudication hearings conducted under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code.

Section 1901.184 | Jurisdiction where property not removed at expiration of campsite use agreement.

• Effective: October 13, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 368 - 125th General Assembly

In addition to jurisdiction otherwise granted by this chapter, a municipal court shall have jurisdiction in actions filed under section 3729.13 of the Revised Code.

Section 1901.185 | Jurisdiction to foreclose lien on blighted parcel.

• Effective: April 7, 2009
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 277 - 127th General Assembly

In addition to jurisdiction otherwise granted in this chapter, the environmental division, where established, of the municipal court shall have jurisdiction within its territory in all of the following actions or proceedings and to perform all of the following functions:

(A) To exercise exclusive original jurisdiction to hear actions arising under section 3767.50 of the Revised Code and in those actions to make findings and orders pertaining to blighted parcels;

(B) When in aid of execution of a judgment of the environmental division of the municipal court rendered pursuant to section 3767.50 of the Revised Code, in actions for the foreclosure of a mortgage on real property given to secure the payment of money, or the enforcement of a specific lien for money or other encumbrance or charge on real property, when the real property is situated within the territory, to foreclose all liens and all vested and contingent rights, render judgments, and make findings and orders, between the parties, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar cases in the court of common pleas.

Section 1901.186 | Concurrent jurisdiction of Tiffin-Fostoria and Seneca County courts.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 567 - 134th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Felony sex offense" has the same meaning as in section 2967.28 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Offense of violence" has the same meaning as in section 2901.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Informant" means a person who is assisting a law enforcement agency in a criminal investigation by purchasing controlled substances from others in return for compensation from the law enforcement agency.

(B) In addition to all other jurisdictions granted a municipal court in this chapter, except as provided in division (C) of this section, the Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court has concurrent jurisdiction with the Seneca county court of common pleas in all criminal actions or proceedings to which both of the following apply:

(1) The court finds that the offender's addiction to a drug of abuse was the primary factor leading to the offender's commission of the offense charged.

(2) The offender is admitted to participate in the participating in victory of transition (PIVOT) drug recovery program.

(C) The Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court does not have concurrent jurisdiction with the Seneca county court of common pleas in a criminal action or proceeding when any of the following applies:

(1) The defendant is not a resident of Seneca county.

(2) The defendant is charged with a felony offense of violence.

(3) The defendant is charged with a felony sex offense or has a duty to comply with sections 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, and 2950.06 of the Revised Code.

(4) The defendant is charged with a felony violation of section 2925.04 or 2925.041 of the Revised Code.

(5) The defendant is under a community control sanction or post-release control sanction imposed by another court or is on parole or probation under the supervision of another jurisdiction.

(6) Criminal proceedings are pending against the defendant for a felony offense in another jurisdiction.

(7) The defendant is serving a prison term imposed by another court.

(8) The defendant is engaged as an informant for a law enforcement agency.

Last updated February 16, 2023 at 10:40 AM

Section 1901.19 | Jurisdictional powers.

• Effective: March 30, 1999
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 170 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) Subject to the monetary jurisdiction of municipal courts as set forth in section 1901.17 of the Revised Code and the subject matter jurisdiction of municipal courts as set forth in section 1901.18 of the Revised Code, a municipal court and a housing or environmental division of a municipal court have jurisdiction within its territory to perform all of the following functions:

(1) To compel attendance of witnesses in any pending action or proceeding in the same manner as the court of common pleas;

(2) To issue executions on its own judgments;

(3) In any legal or equitable action or proceeding, to enforce the collection of its own judgments;

(4) To issue and enforce any order of attachment;

(5) In any action or proceeding in the nature of creditors' bills, and in aid of execution, to subject the interest of a judgment debtor in personal property to the payment of a judgment of the court;

(6) To issue and enforce temporary protection orders pursuant to section 2919.26 of the Revised Code and protection orders pursuant to section 2903.213 of the Revised Code and to enforce protection orders issued by courts of another state, as defined in section 2919.27 of the Revised Code.

(B) Subject to the limitation set forth in this division, a municipal court or a housing or environmental division of a municipal court has jurisdiction outside its territory in a proceeding in aid of execution to subject to the payment of the judgment the interest in personal property of a judgment debtor under a judgment rendered by the court or division. The jurisdiction provided in this division includes the county or counties in which the territory of the court or division in question is situated and any county that is contiguous to that in which the court or division is located. A court or division that has jurisdiction under this division outside its territory in a proceeding in aid of execution has the same powers, duties, and functions relative to the proceeding that it has relative to proceedings in aid of execution over which it has jurisdiction other than under this division.

(C)(1) In any proceeding in garnishment of personal earnings brought in a municipal court, the court has jurisdiction to serve process pursuant to section 2716.05 of the Revised Code upon a garnishee who does not reside within the territory of the court.

(2) In any proceeding in garnishment of property, other than personal earnings, brought in a municipal court under section 2716.11 of the Revised Code, the court has jurisdiction to serve process pursuant to section 2716.13 of the Revised Code upon a garnishee who does not reside within the territory of the court.

(3) Whenever a motion for attachment is filed in a municipal court under section 2715.03 of the Revised Code, the court has jurisdiction to serve process pursuant to section 2715.091 of the Revised Code upon a garnishee who resides in a county contiguous to that in which the court is located.

(D) The municipal court of Cleveland also has jurisdiction in all actions and proceedings in the nature of creditors' bills, and in aid of execution to subject the interests of a judgment debtor in real or personal property to the payment of a judgment of the court. In those actions and proceedings, the court may proceed to marshal and foreclose all liens on the property irrespective of the amount of the lien, and all vested or contingent rights in the property.

Section 1901.20 | Criminal and traffic jurisdiction.

• Effective: July 3, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 62 - 133rd General Assembly

(A)(1) The municipal court has jurisdiction to hear misdemeanor cases committed within its territory and has jurisdiction over the violation of any ordinance of any municipal corporation within its territory, including exclusive jurisdiction over every civil action concerning a violation of a state traffic law or a municipal traffic ordinance. The municipal court does not have jurisdiction over a violation that is required to be handled by a parking violations bureau or joint parking violations bureau pursuant to Chapter 4521. of the Revised Code. However, the municipal court has jurisdiction over the violation of a vehicle parking or standing resolution or regulation if a local authority, as defined in division (D) of section 4521.01 of the Revised Code, has specified that it is not to be considered a criminal offense, if the violation is committed within the limits of the court's territory, and if the violation is not required to be handled by a parking violations bureau or joint parking violations bureau pursuant to Chapter 4521. of the Revised Code.

The municipal court, if it has a housing or environmental division, has jurisdiction over any criminal action over which the housing or environmental division is given jurisdiction by section 1901.181 of the Revised Code, provided that, except as specified in division (B) of that section, no judge of the court other than the judge of the division shall hear or determine any action over which the division has jurisdiction. In all such prosecutions and cases, the court shall proceed to a final determination of the prosecution or case.

(2) A judge of a municipal court does not have the authority to dismiss a criminal complaint, charge, information, or indictment solely at the request of the complaining witness and over the objection of the prosecuting attorney, village solicitor, city director of law, or other chief legal officer who is responsible for the prosecution of the case.

(B) The municipal court has jurisdiction to hear felony cases committed within its territory. In all felony cases, the court may conduct preliminary hearings and other necessary hearings prior to the indictment of the defendant or prior to the court's finding that there is probable and reasonable cause to hold or recognize the defendant to appear before a court of common pleas and may discharge, recognize, or commit the defendant.

(C) A municipal court has jurisdiction over an appeal from a judgment or default judgment entered pursuant to Chapter 4521. of the Revised Code, as authorized by division (D) of section 4521.08 of the Revised Code. The appeal shall be placed on the regular docket of the court and shall be determined by a judge of the court.

(D) As used in this section, "violation of a state traffic law or a municipal traffic ordinance" includes, but is not limited to, a traffic law violation recorded by a traffic law photo-monitoring device, as defined in section 4511.092 of the Revised Code.

Section 1901.21 | Criminal and civil procedure - bond.

• Effective: April 19, 1988
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 708 - 117th General Assembly

(A) In a criminal case or proceeding, the practice, procedure, and mode of bringing and conducting prosecutions for offenses shall be as provided in the Criminal Rules, and the power of the court in relation to the prosecution is the same as the power that is conferred upon county courts.

In any civil case or proceeding for which no special provision is made in this chapter, the practice and procedure in the case or proceeding shall be the same as in courts of common pleas. If no practice or procedure for the case or proceeding is provided for in the courts of common pleas, then the practice or procedure of county courts shall apply.

(B) In the Cleveland municipal court, all bonds for the appearance of a defendant charged with an offense, when the offense is bailable, shall be entered into before the clerk of the municipal court and approved by him; and the surety in them shall be qualified by the clerk.

One surety in every such bond shall be a resident within the jurisdiction of the court; the sureties shall own property worth double the sum to be secured and shall have real estate within Cuyahoga county liable to execution of a value equal to the sum to be secured; and when two or more sureties are offered to the same bond, they shall have in the aggregate the qualification prescribed. The bond shall require the defendant to appear before the court to answer the charge against him, or before the court of common pleas when the defendant is held to the grand jury.

The bond shall clearly disclose the full name of each surety, together with the residence address, and there shall be indorsed on it a brief, but pertinent, description of the real estate owned by each surety.

When the bond is entered into, approved, and accepted, it becomes a subsisting lien on the real estate of the surety in it, upon which he has qualified, until the bond has been exonerated or discharged.

A copy of every such bond, certified under the seal of the court by the clerk as a true copy, shall be filed by him with the county recorder of Cuyahoga county forthwith unless in the meantime the defendant has been acquitted or discharged by the court. The recorder shall provide a suitable record book, properly indexed, in which he shall record all bonds certified to him. The recorder shall be entitled to receive from the clerk, such fees and record charges as are now authorized by law for recording deeds and mortgages; and such fees and charges shall be taxed by the clerk in the costs of the respective cases, and shall be paid to the recorder by the clerk from funds in his hands upon certified vouchers or bills rendered by the recorder.

The clerk shall transmit to the recorder each day a certified list, under the seal of the court, of all bonds which have been exonerated or discharged, and the recorder shall note on the margin of the record of each bond the discharge or satisfaction of it, and the lien on the real estate of the surety in such bond shall thereby be canceled and discharged.

The clerk shall not approve or accept as surety, on any such bond, any person who is then liable on any bond previously executed in the municipal court, unless it appears to the satisfaction of the clerk that the person offering himself as surety has sufficient equity in his real estate over and above his liability on the prior bonds, to justify the subsequent bond, or unless the prior bonds have been exonerated and discharged.

The clerk may tax in the costs of the case, such fees for making the copies and certificates required in this section as the court by rule provides.

In all misdemeanor cases, the clerk, in lieu of the sureties required by this section, may accept a deposit of money, in United States legal tender, in an amount equal to the penal sum stipulated in the bond, and in any felony case a judge of the municipal court may direct the clerk to accept such a deposit in an amount fixed by the judge, which amount shall be the sum stipulated in the bond, and such deposit shall be retained by the clerk as security on it until the bond has been exonerated and discharged. If any such bond is forfeited, the clerk shall apply the money so deposited in satisfaction of any judgment that may be rendered on the bond, and the depositor of such fund shall surrender and forfeit all right in and to the deposit to the extent of such judgment.

Section 1901.22 | Civil actions.

• Effective: March 19, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 159 - 116th General Assembly

Civil actions and proceedings in the municipal court shall be commenced pursuant to the Civil Rules by filing a complaint upon which summons or writ shall be issued by the clerk of the municipal court. A form of summons or writ shall be prescribed by rule of court. The procedure in a civil case in the municipal court shall be in accordance with the following provisions:

(A) The return day shall be fixed by rule of court, and the summons or writ shall, unless accompanied by an order to arrest, be served at least three days before the time of appearance.

(B) In attachment and garnishment proceedings, a true copy of the affidavit shall be served with the summons and order of attachment or garnishment.

(C) In any action in a municipal court for the recovery of personal property, the appraised value of which exceeds the jurisdictional amount as defined in section 1901.17 of the Revised Code, the judge, upon the return of the appraisement prior to judgment, shall certify the proceedings in the case to the court of common pleas.

(D) Whenever any property is seized or sought to be recovered in any action in a municipal court, the property shall be at once appraised. The value of such property may be ascertained by the oath of two disinterested freeholders who are residents of the territory of the court.

(E) In any action in a municipal court in which the amount claimed by any defendant in any statement of counterclaim exceeds the jurisdictional amount, the judge shall certify the proceedings in the case to the court of common pleas, except in the Cleveland municipal court.

(F) When the amount due either party exceeds the sum for which a municipal court is authorized to enter judgment, such party may in writing remit the excess and judgment shall be entered for the residue. Any party defendant may, at his option, withhold setting up any statement of counterclaim and make the counterclaim the subject of a separate action.

(G) Upon certification of any proceedings to the court of common pleas, the clerk of the municipal court shall forthwith transmit the original papers and pleadings, together with a certified transcript of the journal entries in the case, to the clerk of the court of common pleas to be filed. The bailiff shall turn over the property in his possession to the sheriff of the county to be held by him as in like cases originating in the court of common pleas. The case shall then proceed as if it had been commenced originally in the court of common pleas.

Last updated March 14, 2024 at 3:49 PM

Section 1901.23 | Issuance of writs and process.

• Effective: March 19, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 159 - 116th General Assembly

Writs and process in a municipal court shall be served, returned, and publication made in the manner provided for service, return, and publication of summons, writs, and process in the court of common pleas.

In any civil action or proceeding in which the subject matter of the action or proceeding is located within the territory or a defendant resides or is served with summons within the territory, the court may issue summons, orders of interpleader, all other writs, and mesne and final process, including executions necessary or proper for the complete adjudication of the issues and determination of the action, to the bailiff for service in the county or counties in which the court is situated and to the sheriff of any other county against one or more of the remaining defendants.

All warrants, executions, subpoenas, writs, and processes in all criminal and quasi-criminal cases may be issued to the bailiff of the court, a police officer of the appropriate municipal corporation, or to the sheriff of the appropriate county.

In any civil action in which the bailiff is a party or is interested, writs and process shall be directed to the sheriff. If both of these officers are interested, the writs and process shall be directed to and executed by a person appointed by the court or a judge of the court, and that person has the same power to execute the writs and process that the bailiff has. The return of the appointee shall be verified by affidavit, and he is entitled to the fees allowed to the bailiff for similar service.

Section 1901.24 | Demand for jury trial - number of jurors - verdict.

• Effective: March 19, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 159 - 116th General Assembly

(A) A jury trial in a municipal court shall be demanded in the manner prescribed in the Rules of Civil Procedure or the Rules of Criminal Procedure. The number of persons composing a jury and the verdicts of jurors shall be governed by those rules.

(B) The right of a person to a jury trial in a municipal court is waived under the circumstances prescribed in the Rules of Civil Procedure or the Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Section 1901.25 | Selection and impaneling of jury.

• Effective: September 8, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 359 - 131st General Assembly

(A)(1) A municipal court may provide by rule the manner in which jurors shall be chosen, and may provide that jurors to be used in the court may be chosen and summoned by the jury commissioners of the county as provided in Chapter 2313. of the Revised Code. Selection shall be made from residents within the territory and those appearing to reside outside the territory shall be returned to the annual jury list.

(2) If the rules of the court provide for jurors to be chosen in a manner other than by the jury commissioners of the county, the rules shall require any person who appears to the court to be a program participant in the address confidentiality program described in sections 111.41 to 111.99 of the Revised Code to be excluded from the list of possible jurors.

(B) Jurors shall be impaneled in the same manner, shall have the same qualifications, and shall be challenged for the same causes as jurors in the court of common pleas.

(C) Each municipal court shall establish the fees of jurors in that court. The fees of jurors in any criminal case involving the violation of state law shall be paid out of the county treasury. The fees of jurors in any criminal case involving a violation of a municipal ordinance shall be paid out of the treasury of the municipal corporation in which the violation occurred.

Section 1901.26 | Costs.

• Effective: October 17, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) Subject to division (E) of this section, costs in a municipal court shall be fixed and taxed as follows:

(1)(a) The municipal court shall require an advance deposit for the filing of any new civil action or proceeding when required by division (C) of this section, subject to its waiver pursuant to that division, and in all other cases, by rule, shall establish a schedule of fees and costs to be taxed in any civil or criminal action or proceeding.

(b)(i) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation may by ordinance establish a schedule of fees to be taxed as costs in any civil, criminal, or traffic action or proceeding in a municipal court for the performance by officers or other employees of the municipal corporation's police department or marshal's office of any of the services specified in sections 311.17 and 509.15 of the Revised Code. No fee in the schedule shall be higher than the fee specified in section 311.17 of the Revised Code for the performance of the same service by the sheriff. If a fee established in the schedule conflicts with a fee for the same service established in another section of the Revised Code or a rule of court, the fee established in the other section of the Revised Code or the rule of court shall apply.

(ii) When an officer or employee of a municipal police department or marshal's office performs in a civil, criminal, or traffic action or proceeding in a municipal court a service specified in section 311.17 or 509.15 of the Revised Code for which a taxable fee has been established under this or any other section of the Revised Code, the applicable legal fees and any other extraordinary expenses, including overtime, provided for the service shall be taxed as costs in the case. The clerk of the court shall pay those legal fees and other expenses, when collected, into the general fund of the municipal corporation that employs the officer or employee.

(iii) If a bailiff of a municipal court performs in a civil, criminal, or traffic action or proceeding in that court a service specified in section 311.17 or 509.15 of the Revised Code for which a taxable fee has been established under this section or any other section of the Revised Code, the fee for the service is the same and is taxable to the same extent as if the service had been performed by an officer or employee of the police department or marshal's office of the municipal corporation in which the court is located. The clerk of that court shall pay the fee, when collected, into the general fund of the entity or entities that fund the bailiff's salary, in the same prorated amount as the salary is funded.

(iv) Division (A)(1)(b) of this section does not authorize or require any officer or employee of a police department or marshal's office of a municipal corporation or any bailiff of a municipal court to perform any service not otherwise authorized by law.

(2) The municipal court, by rule, may require an advance deposit for the filing of any civil action or proceeding and publication fees as provided in section 2701.09 of the Revised Code. The court shall waive the requirement for advance deposit for a party that the court determines qualifies as an indigent litigant as set forth in section 2323.311 of the Revised Code.

(3) When a jury trial is demanded in any civil action or proceeding, the party making the demand may be required to make an advance deposit as fixed by rule of court, unless the court determines that the party qualifies as an indigent litigant as set forth in section 2323.311 of the Revised Code. If a jury is called, the fees of a jury shall be taxed as costs.

(4) In any civil or criminal action or proceeding, each witness shall receive twelve dollars for each full day's attendance and six dollars for each half day's attendance. Each witness in a municipal court that is not a county-operated municipal court also shall receive fifty and one-half cents for each mile necessarily traveled to and from the witness's place of residence to the action or proceeding.

(5) A reasonable charge for driving, towing, carting, storing, keeping, and preserving motor vehicles and other personal property recovered or seized in any proceeding may be taxed as part of the costs in a trial of the cause, in an amount that shall be fixed by rule of court.

(6) Chattel property seized under any writ or process issued by the court shall be preserved pending final disposition for the benefit of all persons interested and may be placed in storage when necessary or proper for that preservation. The custodian of any chattel property so stored shall not be required to part with the possession of the property until a reasonable charge, to be fixed by the court, is paid.

(7) The municipal court, as it determines, may refund all deposits and advance payments of fees and costs, including those for jurors and summoning jurors, when they have been paid by the losing party.

(8) Charges for the publication of legal notices required by statute or order of court may be taxed as part of the costs, as provided by section 7.13 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1)(a) The municipal court may determine that, for the efficient operation of the court, additional funds are necessary to acquire and pay for special projects of the court including, but not limited to, the acquisition of additional facilities or the rehabilitation of existing facilities, the acquisition of equipment, the hiring and training of staff, community service programs, mediation or dispute resolution services, the employment of magistrates, the training and education of judges, acting judges, and magistrates, and other related services. Upon that determination, the court by rule may charge a fee, in addition to all other court costs, on the filing of each criminal cause, civil action or proceeding, or judgment by confession.

(b) If the municipal court offers a special program or service in cases of a specific type, the municipal court by rule may assess an additional charge in a case of that type, over and above court costs, to cover the special program or service. The municipal court shall adjust the special assessment periodically, but not retroactively, so that the amount assessed in those cases does not exceed the actual cost of providing the service or program.

(c) Any fee or charge assessed under division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of this section on the filing of a civil action or proceeding shall be waived if the court determines that the person on whom the fee or charge is assessed qualifies as an indigent litigant as set forth in section 2323.311 of the Revised Code.

(d) All moneys collected under division (B) of this section shall be paid to the county treasurer if the court is a county-operated municipal court or to the city treasurer if the court is not a county-operated municipal court for deposit into either a general special projects fund or a fund established for a specific special project. Moneys from a fund of that nature shall be disbursed upon an order of the court in an amount no greater than the actual cost to the court of a project. If a specific fund is terminated because of the discontinuance of a program or service established under division (B) of this section, the municipal court may order that moneys remaining in the fund be transferred to an account established under this division for a similar purpose.

(2) As used in division (B) of this section:

(a) "Criminal cause" means a charge alleging the violation of a statute or ordinance, or subsection of a statute or ordinance, that requires a separate finding of fact or a separate plea before disposition and of which the defendant may be found guilty, whether filed as part of a multiple charge on a single summons, citation, or complaint or as a separate charge on a single summons, citation, or complaint. "Criminal cause" does not include separate violations of the same statute or ordinance, or subsection of the same statute or ordinance, unless each charge is filed on a separate summons, citation, or complaint.

(b) "Civil action or proceeding" means any civil litigation that must be determined by judgment entry.

(C) The municipal court shall collect in all its divisions except the small claims division the sum of twenty-six dollars as additional filing fees in each new civil action or proceeding for the charitable public purpose of providing financial assistance to legal aid societies that operate within the state and to support the office of the state public defender. The municipal court shall collect in its small claims division the sum of eleven dollars as additional filing fees in each new civil action or proceeding for the charitable public purpose of providing financial assistance to legal aid societies that operate within the state and to support the office of the state public defender. This division does not apply to any execution on a judgment, proceeding in aid of execution, or other post-judgment proceeding arising out of a civil action. The filing fees required to be collected under this division shall be in addition to any other court costs imposed in the action or proceeding and shall be collected at the time of the filing of the action or proceeding. The court shall not waive the payment of the additional filing fees in a new civil action or proceeding unless the court waives the advanced payment of all filing fees in the action or proceeding for the party that the court determines is qualified as an indigent litigant as set forth in section 2323.311 of the Revised Code. All such moneys collected during a month except for an amount equal to up to one per cent of those moneys retained to cover administrative costs shall be transmitted on or before the twentieth day of the following month by the clerk of the court to the treasurer of state in a manner prescribed by the treasurer of state or by the Ohio access to justice foundation. The treasurer of state shall deposit four per cent of the funds collected under this division to the credit of the civil case filing fee fund established under section 120.07 of the Revised Code and ninety-six per cent of the funds collected under this division to the credit of the legal aid fund established under section 120.52 of the Revised Code.

The court may retain up to one per cent of the moneys it collects under this division to cover administrative costs, including the hiring of any additional personnel necessary to implement this division. If the court fails to transmit to the treasurer of state the moneys the court collects under this division in a manner prescribed by the treasurer of state or by the Ohio access to justice foundation, the court shall forfeit the moneys the court retains under this division to cover administrative costs, including the hiring of any additional personnel necessary to implement this division, and shall transmit to the treasurer of state all moneys collected under this division, including the forfeited amount retained for administrative costs, for deposit in the legal aid fund.

(D) In the Cleveland municipal court, reasonable charges for investigating titles of real estate to be sold or disposed of under any writ or process of the court may be taxed as part of the costs.

(E) Under the circumstances described in sections 2969.21 to 2969.27 of the Revised Code, the clerk of the municipal court shall charge the fees and perform the other duties specified in those sections.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Full day's attendance" means a day on which a witness is required or requested to be present at an action or proceeding before and after twelve noon, regardless of whether the witness actually testifies.

(2) "Half day's attendance" means a day on which a witness is required or requested to be present at an action or proceeding either before or after twelve noon, but not both, regardless of whether the witness actually testifies.

Section 1901.261 | Computerizing court of paying cost of computerized legal research.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) A municipal court may determine that for the efficient operation of the court additional funds are required to computerize the court, to make available computerized legal research services, or to do both. Upon making a determination that additional funds are required for either or both of those purposes, the court shall include in its schedule of fees and costs under section 1901.26 of the Revised Code one additional fee not to exceed three dollars on the filing of each cause of action or appeal equivalent to one described in division (A), (Q), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code and shall direct the clerk of the court to charge the fee.

(2) All fees collected under this section shall be paid on or before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are collected to the county treasurer if the court is a county-operated municipal court or to the city treasurer if the court is not a county-operated municipal court. The treasurer shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners if the court is a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated municipal court, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making an annual report available to the public listing the use of all such funds, in an amount not greater than the actual cost to the court of computerizing the court, procuring and maintaining computerized legal research services, or both.

(3) If the court determines that the funds in the fund described in division (A)(2) of this section are more than sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional fee described in division (A)(1) of this section was imposed, the court may declare a surplus in the fund and, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners if the court is a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated municipal court, expend those surplus funds, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making an annual report available to the public listing the use of all such funds, expend those surplus funds, for other appropriate technological expenses of the court.

(B)(1)(a) Except as provided in division (B)(1)(b) of this section, the clerk of a municipal court may determine that, for the efficient operation of the office of the clerk of the municipal court, additional funds are required to computerize the office of the clerk of the court and, upon that determination, may authorize and direct that a computerization fee not to exceed twenty dollars be charged on the filing of each cause of action or appeal, on the filing, docketing, and endorsing of each certificate of judgment, or on the docketing and indexing of each aid in execution or petition to vacate, revive, or modify a judgment that is equivalent to one described in division (A), (P), (Q), (T), or (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code.

(b) In a county in which the clerk of the municipal court is appointed, the municipal court may make the determination described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section and, upon that determination, may include such a computerization fee in its schedule of fees and costs under section 1901.26 of the Revised Code.

(2) Subject to division (B)(3) of this section, all moneys collected under division (B)(1)(a) of this section shall be paid on or before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are collected to the county treasurer if the court is a county-operated municipal court or to the city treasurer if the court is not a county-operated municipal court. The treasurer shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed, and subject to an appropriation made by the board of county commissioners if the court is a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated municipal court, in an amount no greater than the actual cost to the court of procuring and maintaining computer systems for the office of the clerk of the municipal court.

(3) If a municipal court or the clerk of a municipal court makes the determination described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section, the board of county commissioners of the county if the court is a county-operated municipal court or the legislative authority of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated municipal court, may issue one or more general obligation bonds for the purpose of procuring and maintaining the computer systems for the office of the clerk of the municipal court. In addition to the purposes stated in division (B)(1)(a) of this section for which the moneys collected under that division may be expended, the moneys additionally may be expended to pay debt charges and financing costs related to any general obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(3) of this section as they become due. General obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(3) of this section are Chapter 133. securities.

Last updated August 27, 2024 at 3:01 PM

Section 1901.262 | Rules for procedures for resolution of disputes.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

(A) A municipal court may establish by rule procedures for the resolution of disputes between parties. Any procedures so adopted shall include, but are not limited to, mediation. If the court establishes any procedures under this division, the court may include in the court's schedule of fees and costs under section 1901.26 of the Revised Code a reasonable fee, that is to be collected on the filing of each civil or criminal action or proceeding, and that is to be used to implement the procedures, and the court shall direct the clerk of the court to charge the fee.

(B) All fees collected under division (A) of this section shall be paid to the county treasurer if the court is a county-operated municipal court or to the city treasurer if the court is not a county-operated municipal court. The treasurer shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed either upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners if the court is a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated municipal court, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making an annual report available to the public listing the use of all such funds.

(C) If the court determines that the amount of the moneys in the fund described in division (B) of this section is more than the amount sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional fee described in division (A) of this section was imposed, the court may declare a surplus in the fund and, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners if the court is a county-operated municipal court or by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation if the court is not a county-operated municipal court, expend the surplus moneys, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making an annual report available to the public listing the use of all such funds, expend the surplus moneys for other appropriate expenses of the court.

Section 1901.263 | Cancellation of uncollectible debts.

• Effective: March 22, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 247 - 129th General Assembly

If at any time the court finds that an amount owing to the court is due and uncollectible, in whole or in part, the court may direct the clerk of the court to cancel all or part of the claim. The clerk shall then effect the cancellation.

Section 1901.27 | When action is pending.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

An action is pending so as to charge third persons with notice of its pendency when summons has been served or the first publication made. While pending, no interest can be acquired by third persons in the subject of the action as against the plaintiff's title.

Section 1901.28 | Bond for appeal.

• Effective: March 19, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 159 - 116th General Assembly

(A) A person against whom a judgment has been rendered may stay execution on the judgment by entering into a bond to the adverse party within ten days after the rendition of the judgment with sufficient surety, who shall be a freeholder owning real property situated in the county or a corporation authorized to execute surety bonds in this state, which bond shall be approved by the clerk of the municipal court and conditioned for the payment of the amount of the judgment, interest, and costs. The bond shall be entered on the docket by the clerk of court and shall be signed by the surety.

(B) A stay of execution shall not be allowed on:

(1) Judgments against sureties or bail for the stay of execution;

(2) Judgments rendered in favor of sureties or bail who have been compelled by judgment to pay money on account of their principal;

(3) Judgments rendered against a surety on a bond or undertaking given in any action or proceeding in any court;

(4) Judgments for an amount not exceeding one hundred dollars rendered in favor of any person for wages due for manual labor by him performed;

(5) Judgments and decrees in actions of foreclosures of mortgages, mechanics' liens, and in proceedings to subject real property to the payment of judgments and marshalling of liens.

(C) In the Cleveland municipal court, if a freeholder of Cuyahoga county is a surety, the undertaking shall be a lien on the real property of the freeholder situated in Cuyahoga county from the time of signing the undertaking until the judgment and all costs in the case upon which the stay of execution has been granted are satisfied.

Section 1901.29 | No term of court.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

There is no term in municipal court, but for the purpose of computing time, ninety days following judgment shall be considered within term and time thereafter shall be considered after term.

Section 1901.30 | Appeals.

• Effective: April 19, 1988
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 708 - 117th General Assembly

Appeals from the municipal court may be taken as follows:

(A) To the court of appeals in accordance with the Rules of Appellate Procedure and any relevant sections of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code to the extent it is not in conflict with those rules.

(B) When an appeal is taken from the municipal court, the clerk of the municipal court shall transmit, pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure, the record on appeal to the clerk of the appellate court to be filed.

(C) In all appeal proceedings relating to judgments or orders of a municipal court, the reviewing courts shall take judicial notice of all rules relating to pleadings, practice, or procedure of the municipal court.

Section 1901.31 | Clerk of court.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 21 (GA 135), House Bill 33 (GA 135)

The clerk and deputy clerks of a municipal court shall be selected, be compensated, give bond, and have powers and duties as follows:

(A) There shall be a clerk of the court who is appointed or elected as follows:

(1)(a) Except in the Akron, Barberton, Toledo, Columbiana county, Hamilton county, Miami county, Montgomery county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts and through December 31, 2008, the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, if the population of the territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand at the regular municipal election immediately preceding the expiration of the term of the present clerk, the clerk shall be nominated and elected by the qualified electors of the territory in the manner that is provided for the nomination and election of judges in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code.

The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(b) In the Hamilton county municipal court, the clerk of courts of Hamilton county shall be the clerk of the municipal court and may appoint an assistant clerk who shall receive the compensation, payable out of the treasury of Hamilton county in semimonthly installments, that the board of county commissioners prescribes. The clerk of courts of Hamilton county, acting as the clerk of the Hamilton county municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to the annual compensation that is received for the performance of the duties of the clerk of courts of Hamilton county, as provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(c) In the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code and assistant clerks as the judges of the municipal court determine are necessary, all of whom shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks of courts of Portage county and Wayne county, acting as the clerks of the Portage county and Wayne county municipal courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(d) In the Montgomery county and Miami county municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Montgomery county and Miami county shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Montgomery county and Miami county municipal courts. The clerks of courts of Montgomery county and Miami county, acting as the clerks of the Montgomery county and Miami county municipal courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code. This compensation shall be paid from the county treasury in semimonthly installments and is in addition to the annual compensation that is received for the performance of the duties of the clerks of courts of Montgomery county and Miami county, as provided in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(e) of this section, in the Akron municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Akron for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Akron municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(f) of this section, in the Barberton municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Barberton for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Barberton municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(g)(i) Through December 31, 2008, except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(g)(i) of this section, in the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Cuyahoga Falls for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Cuyahoga Falls municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(ii) Division (A)(1)(g)(i) of this section shall have no effect after December 31, 2008.

(h) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(1)(h) of this section, in the Toledo municipal court, candidates for election to the office of clerk of the court shall be nominated by primary election. The primary election shall be held on the day specified in the charter of the city of Toledo for the nomination of municipal officers. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code, the declarations of candidacy and petitions of partisan candidates and the nominating petitions of independent candidates for the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall be signed by at least fifty qualified electors of the territory of the court.

The candidates shall file a declaration of candidacy and petition, or a nominating petition, whichever is applicable, not later than four p.m. of the ninetieth day before the day of the primary election, in the form prescribed by section 3513.07 or 3513.261 of the Revised Code. The declaration of candidacy and petition, or the nominating petition, shall conform to the applicable requirements of section 3513.05 or 3513.257 of the Revised Code.

If no valid declaration of candidacy and petition is filed by any person for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office. If only one person files a valid declaration of candidacy and petition for nomination as a candidate of a particular political party for election to that office, a primary election shall not be held for the purpose of nominating a candidate of that party for election to that office, and the candidate shall be issued a certificate of nomination in the manner set forth in section 3513.02 of the Revised Code.

Declarations of candidacy and petitions, nominating petitions, and certificates of nomination for the office of clerk of the Toledo municipal court shall contain a designation of the term for which the candidate seeks election. At the following regular municipal election, all candidates for the office shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the territory of the court in the manner that is provided in section 1901.07 of the Revised Code for the election of the judges of the court. The clerk so elected shall hold office for a term of six years, which term shall commence on the first day of January following the clerk's election and continue until the clerk's successor is elected and qualified.

(i) In the Columbiana county municipal court, the clerk of courts of Columbiana county shall be the clerk of the municipal court, may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch office that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code, and may appoint any assistant clerks that the judges of the court determine are necessary. All of the chief deputy clerks and assistant clerks shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerk of courts of Columbiana county, acting as the clerk of the Columbiana county municipal court and assuming the duties of that office, shall receive in either biweekly installments or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, compensation payable from the county treasury at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(2)(a) Except for the Alliance, Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, Putnam county, Lima, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown municipal courts, in a municipal court for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand, the clerk shall be appointed by the court, and the clerk shall hold office until the clerk's successor is appointed and qualified.

(b) In the Alliance, Lima, Lorain, Massillon, and Youngstown municipal courts, the clerk shall be elected for a term of office as described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section.

(c) In the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, and Putnam county municipal courts, the clerks of courts of Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, and Putnam county shall be the clerks, respectively, of the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, and Putnam county municipal courts and may appoint a chief deputy clerk for each branch office that is established pursuant to section 1901.311 of the Revised Code, and assistant clerks as the judge of the court determines are necessary, all of whom shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. The clerks of courts of Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, and Putnam county, acting as the clerks of the Auglaize county, Brown county, Holmes county, Perry county, and Putnam county municipal courts and assuming the duties of these offices, shall receive compensation payable from the county treasury in semimonthly installments at one-fourth the rate that is prescribed for the clerks of courts of common pleas as determined in accordance with the population of the county and the rates set forth in sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code.

(3) During the temporary absence of the clerk due to illness, vacation, or other proper cause, the court may appoint a temporary clerk, who shall be paid the same compensation, have the same authority, and perform the same duties as the clerk.

(B) Except in the Hamilton county, Montgomery county, Miami county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, if a vacancy occurs in the office of the clerk of the Alliance, Lima, Lorain, Massillon, or Youngstown municipal court or occurs in the office of the clerk of a municipal court for which the population of the territory equals or exceeds one hundred thousand because the clerk ceases to hold the office before the end of the clerk's term or because a clerk-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be filled, until a successor is elected and qualified, by a person chosen by the residents of the territory of the court who are members of the county central committee of the political party by which the last occupant of that office or the clerk-elect was nominated. Not less than five nor more than fifteen days after a vacancy occurs, those members of that county central committee shall meet to make an appointment to fill the vacancy. At least four days before the date of the meeting, the chairperson or a secretary of the county central committee shall notify each such member of that county central committee by first class mail of the date, time, and place of the meeting and its purpose. A majority of all such members of that county central committee constitutes a quorum, and a majority of the quorum is required to make the appointment. If the office so vacated was occupied or was to be occupied by a person not nominated at a primary election, or if the appointment was not made by the committee members in accordance with this division, the court shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy. A successor shall be elected to fill the office for the unexpired term at the first municipal election that is held more than one hundred thirty-five days after the vacancy occurred.

(C)(1) In a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, the Brown county, the Holmes county, the Perry county, the Putnam county, and the Lorain municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand, the clerk of the municipal court shall receive the annual compensation that the presiding judge of the court prescribes, if the revenue of the court for the preceding calendar year, as certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer of the municipal corporation in which the court is located or, in the case of a county-operated municipal court, the county auditor, is equal to or greater than the expenditures, including any debt charges, for the operation of the court payable under this chapter from the city treasury or, in the case of a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury for that calendar year, as also certified by the auditor or chief fiscal officer. If the revenue of a municipal court, other than the Auglaize county, the Brown county, the Columbiana county, the Perry county, the Putnam county, and the Lorain municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is less than one hundred thousand for the preceding calendar year as so certified is not equal to or greater than those expenditures for the operation of the court for that calendar year as so certified, the clerk of a municipal court shall receive the annual compensation that the legislative authority prescribes. As used in this division, "revenue" means the total of all costs and fees that are collected and paid to the city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury by the clerk of the municipal court under division (F) of this section and all interest received and paid to the city treasury or, in a county-operated municipal court, the county treasury in relation to the costs and fees under division (G) of this section.

(2) In a municipal court, other than the Columbiana county, Hamilton county, Montgomery county, Miami county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, for which the population of the territory is one hundred thousand or more, and in the Lorain municipal court, the clerk of the municipal court shall receive annual compensation in a sum equal to eighty-five per cent of the salary of a judge of the court.

(3) The compensation of a clerk described in division (C)(1) or (2) of this section and of the clerk of the Columbiana county municipal court is payable in either semimonthly installments or biweekly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, from the same sources and in the same manner as provided in section 1901.11 of the Revised Code, except that the compensation of the clerk of the Carroll county municipal court is payable in biweekly installments.

(D) Before entering upon the duties of the clerk's office, the clerk of a municipal court shall give bond of not less than six thousand dollars to be determined by the judges of the court, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the clerk's duties.

(E) The clerk of a municipal court may do all of the following: administer oaths, take affidavits, and issue executions upon any judgment rendered in the court, including a judgment for unpaid costs; issue, sign, and attach the seal of the court to all writs, process, subpoenas, and papers issuing out of the court; and approve all bonds, sureties, recognizances, and undertakings fixed by any judge of the court or by law. The clerk may refuse to accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a person who has been found to be a vexatious litigator under section 2323.52 of the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain leave to proceed under that section. The clerk shall do all of the following: file and safely keep all journals, records, books, and papers belonging or appertaining to the court; record the proceedings of the court; perform all other duties that the judges of the court may prescribe; and keep a book showing all receipts and disbursements, which book shall be open for public inspection at all times.

The clerk shall prepare and maintain a general index, a docket, and other records that the court, by rule, requires, all of which shall be the public records of the court. In the docket, the clerk shall enter, at the time of the commencement of an action, the names of the parties in full, the names of the counsel, and the nature of the proceedings. Under proper dates, the clerk shall note the filing of the complaint, issuing of summons or other process, returns, and any subsequent pleadings. The clerk also shall enter all reports, verdicts, orders, judgments, and proceedings of the court, clearly specifying the relief granted or orders made in each action. The court may order an extended record of any of the above to be made and entered, under the proper action heading, upon the docket at the request of any party to the case, the expense of which record may be taxed as costs in the case or may be required to be prepaid by the party demanding the record, upon order of the court.

(F) The clerk of a municipal court shall receive, collect, and issue receipts for all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other moneys payable to the office or to any officer of the court. The clerk shall on or before the twentieth day of the month following the month in which they are collected disburse to the proper persons or officers, and take receipts for, all costs, fees, fines, bail, and other moneys that the clerk collects. Subject to sections 307.515 and 4511.193 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court and except for the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay all fines received for violation of municipal ordinances into the treasury of the municipal corporation the ordinance of which was violated and shall pay all fines received for violation of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the township the resolution of which was violated. Subject to sections 1901.024 and 4511.193 of the Revised Code, in the Hamilton county, Lawrence county, and Ottawa county municipal courts, the clerk shall pay fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of municipal ordinances and fifty per cent of the fines received for violation of township resolutions adopted pursuant to section 503.52 or 503.53 or Chapter 504. of the Revised Code into the treasury of the county. Subject to sections 307.515, 4511.19, and 5503.04 of the Revised Code and to any other section of the Revised Code that requires a specific manner of disbursement of any moneys received by a municipal court, the clerk shall pay all fines collected for the violation of state laws into the county treasury. Except in a county-operated municipal court, the clerk shall pay all costs and fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised Code into the city treasury. The clerk of a county-operated municipal court shall pay the costs and fees the disbursement of which is not otherwise provided for in the Revised Code into the county treasury. Moneys deposited as security for costs shall be retained pending the litigation. The clerk shall keep a separate account of all receipts and disbursements in civil and criminal cases, which shall be a permanent public record of the office. On the expiration of the term of the clerk, the clerk shall deliver the records to the clerk's successor. The clerk shall have other powers and duties as are prescribed by rule or order of the court.

(G) All moneys paid into a municipal court shall be noted on the record of the case in which they are paid and shall be deposited in a state or national bank, as defined in section 1101.01 of the Revised Code, that is selected by the clerk. Any interest received upon the deposits shall be paid into the city treasury, except that, in a county-operated municipal court, the interest shall be paid into the treasury of the county in which the court is located.

On the first Monday in January of each year, the clerk shall make a list of the titles of all cases in the court that were finally determined more than one year past in which there remains unclaimed in the possession of the clerk any funds, or any part of a deposit for security of costs not consumed by the costs in the case. The clerk shall give notice of the moneys to the parties who are entitled to the moneys or to their attorneys of record. All the moneys remaining unclaimed that are for restitution payments for crime victims shall be sent to the reparations fund created under section 2743.191 of the Revised Code, with a list from the clerk or other officer responsible for the collection and distribution of restitution payments specifying the amounts and individual identifying information of the funds. All other moneys remaining unclaimed on the first day of April of each year shall be paid by the clerk to the city treasurer, except that, in a county-operated municipal court, the moneys shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the court is located. The treasurer shall pay any part of the moneys at any time to the person who has the right to the moneys upon proper certification of the clerk.

(H) Deputy clerks of a municipal court other than the Carroll county municipal court may be appointed by the clerk and shall receive the compensation, payable in either biweekly installments or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, out of the city treasury, that the clerk may prescribe, except that the compensation of any deputy clerk of a county-operated municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located. The judge of the Carroll county municipal court may appoint deputy clerks for the court, and the deputy clerks shall receive the compensation, payable in biweekly installments out of the county treasury, that the judge may prescribe. Each deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of the deputy clerk's office and, when so qualified, may perform the duties appertaining to the office of the clerk. The clerk may require any of the deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the deputy clerk's duties.

(I) For the purposes of this section, whenever the population of the territory of a municipal court falls below one hundred thousand but not below ninety thousand, and the population of the territory prior to the most recent regular federal census exceeded one hundred thousand, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation may declare, by resolution, that the territory shall be considered to have a population of at least one hundred thousand.

(J) The clerk or a deputy clerk shall be in attendance at all sessions of the municipal court, although not necessarily in the courtroom, and may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors and receive verdicts.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated August 29, 2023 at 3:11 PM

Section 1901.311 | Branch offices - special deputy clerks.

• Effective: September 23, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 518 - 134th General Assembly

(A) A municipal court may establish one or more branch offices and may appoint a special deputy clerk to administer each branch office. Each special deputy clerk shall take an oath of office before entering upon the duties of office, and, when so qualified, may perform any one or more of the duties appertaining to the office of clerk, as the court prescribes. Special deputy clerks appointed by the court pursuant to this section shall receive such compensation payable in either biweekly installments or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, out of the city treasury as the court may prescribe, except that the compensation of any special deputy clerk of a county-operated municipal court shall be payable out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located. The court may require any of the special deputy clerks to give bond of not less than three thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of duties.

(B) The Tiffin-Fostoria municipal court shall establish a branch office in Fostoria and shall appoint a special deputy clerk to administer the branch office on a full-time basis. The special deputy clerk shall take the oath of office, perform the duties appertaining to the office of the clerk of court as the court prescribes, and receive compensation as provided in division (A) of this section.

(C) The Fulton county municipal court shall establish a branch office in Swanton and shall appoint a special deputy clerk to administer the branch office on a full-time basis. The special deputy clerk shall take the oath of office, perform the duties appertaining to the office of the clerk of court as the court prescribes, and receive compensation as provided in division (A) of this section.

Last updated July 8, 2022 at 10:32 AM

Section 1901.312 | Group health care coverage for clerks and deputy clerks.

• Effective: January 1, 2018
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 25, House Bill 215 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "health care coverage" has the same meaning as in section 1901.111 of the Revised Code.

(B) The legislative authority, after consultation with the clerk and deputy clerks of the municipal court, shall negotiate and contract for, purchase, or otherwise procure group health care coverage for the clerk and deputy clerks and their spouses and dependents from insurance companies authorized to engage in the business of insurance in this state under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code or health insuring corporations holding certificates of authority under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code, except that if the county or municipal corporation served by the legislative authority provides group health care coverage for its employees, the group health care coverage required by this section shall be provided, if possible, through the policy or plan under which the group health care coverage is provided for the county or municipal corporation employees.

(C) The portion of the costs, premiums, or charges for the group health care coverage procured pursuant to division (B) of this section that is not paid by the clerk and deputy clerks of the municipal court, or all of the costs, premiums, or charges for the group health care coverage if the clerk and deputy clerks will not be paying any such portion, shall be paid as follows:

(1) If the municipal court is a county-operated municipal court, the portion of the costs, premiums, or charges or all of the costs, premiums, or charges shall be paid out of the treasury of the county.

(2)(a) If the municipal court is not a county-operated municipal court, the portion of the costs, premiums, or charges in connection with the clerk or all of the costs, premiums, or charges in connection with the clerk shall be paid in three-fifths and two-fifths shares from the city treasury and appropriate county treasuries as described in division (C) of section 1901.31 of the Revised Code. The three-fifths share of a city treasury is subject to apportionment under section 1901.026 of the Revised Code.

(b) If the municipal court is not a county-operated municipal court, the portion of the costs, premiums, or charges in connection with the deputy clerks or all of the costs, premiums, or charges in connection with the deputy clerks shall be paid from the city treasury and shall be subject to apportionment under section 1901.026 of the Revised Code.

(D) This section does not apply to the clerk of the Auglaize county, Hamilton county, Paulding county, Perry county, Portage county, Putnam county, or Wayne county municipal court, if health care coverage is provided to the clerk by virtue of the clerk's employment as the clerk of the court of common pleas of Auglaize county, Hamilton county, Paulding county, Perry county, Portage county, Putnam county, or Wayne county.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Section 1901.313 | Electronic filing.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Beginning not later than two hundred seventy days after the effective date of this section, pleadings or documents may be filed with the clerk of court either in paper format or in electronic format.

(B)(1) The clerk shall determine whether the filing of pleadings or documents in electronic format may be accomplished either by electronic mail or through the use of an online platform.

(2) The fee for filing pleadings or documents in electronic format may be paid after the filing. The clerk shall not require that any fee for the filing of pleadings or documents in electronic format be paid before the filing, unless the clerk has provided for an electronic payment system for such filing.

(3) The clerk shall not require a fee for the filing of pleadings or documents in electronic format that is greater than the applicable fee for the filing of pleadings or documents in paper format.

(C) Pleadings and documents filed in paper format may be converted to an electronic format. Documents created by the clerk of court in the exercise of the clerk's duties may be created in an electronic format.

(D) When pleadings or documents are received or created in, or converted to, an electronic format as provided in this section, the pleadings or documents in that format shall be considered the official version of the record.

Last updated September 11, 2024 at 12:11 PM

Section 1901.32 | Bailiffs.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 291 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) The bailiffs and deputy bailiffs of a municipal court shall be provided for, and their duties are, as follows:

(1) Except for the Hamilton county municipal court, the court shall appoint a bailiff who shall receive the annual compensation that the court prescribes payable in either biweekly installments or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, from the same sources and in the same manner as provided in section 1901.11 of the Revised Code. The court may provide that the chief of police of the municipal corporation or a member of the police force be appointed by the court to be the bailiff of the court. Before entering upon the duties of office, the bailiff shall take an oath to faithfully perform the duties of the office and, except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, shall give a bond of not less than three thousand dollars, as the legislative authority prescribes, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of chief bailiff.

(2) Except for the Hamilton county municipal court, deputy bailiffs may be appointed by the court. Deputy bailiffs shall receive the compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the city treasury that the court prescribes, except that the compensation of deputy bailiffs in a county-operated municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located. Except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, each deputy bailiff shall give a bond in an amount not less than one thousand dollars, and, when so qualified, may perform the duties pertaining to the office of chief bailiff of the court.

(3) The bailiff and all deputy bailiffs of the Hamilton county municipal court shall be appointed by the clerk and shall receive the compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the treasury of Hamilton county that the clerk prescribes. Each judge of the Hamilton county municipal court may appoint a courtroom bailiff, each of whom shall receive the compensation payable in semimonthly installments out of the treasury of Hamilton county that the court prescribes.

(4) The legislative authority may purchase motor vehicles for the use of the bailiffs and deputy bailiffs as the court determines they need to perform the duties of their office. All expenses, maintenance, and upkeep of the vehicles shall be paid by the legislative authority upon approval by the court. Any allowances, costs, and expenses for the operation of private motor vehicles by bailiffs and deputy bailiffs for official duties, including the cost of oil, gasoline, and maintenance, shall be prescribed by the court and, subject to the approval of the legislative authority, shall be paid from the city treasury, except that the allowances, costs, and expenses for the bailiffs and deputy bailiffs of a county-operated municipal court shall be paid from the treasury of the county in which the court is located.

(5) Every police officer of any municipal corporation and police constable of a township within the territory of the court is ex officio a deputy bailiff of the court in and for the municipal corporation or township in which commissioned as a police officer or police constable, and shall perform any duties in respect to cases within the officer's or constable's jurisdiction that are required by a judge of the court, or by the clerk or a bailiff or deputy bailiff of the court, without additional compensation.

(6) In addition to the persons who are ex officio deputy bailiffs under division (A)(5) of this section, every deputy sheriff of a county is ex officio a deputy bailiff of a municipal court within the county and shall perform without additional compensation any duties in respect to cases within the court's jurisdiction that are required by a judge of the court, by the clerk of the court, or by a bailiff or deputy bailiff of the court.

(7) The bailiff and deputy bailiffs shall perform for the court services similar to those performed by the sheriff for the court of common pleas and shall perform any other duties that are requested by rule of court.

The bailiff or deputy bailiff may administer oaths to witnesses and jurors and receive verdicts in the same manner and form and to the same extent as the clerk or deputy clerks of the court. The bailiff may approve all undertakings and bonds given in actions of replevin and all redelivery bonds in attachments.

(B) In the Cleveland municipal court, the chief clerks and all deputy clerks are in the classified civil service of the city of Cleveland. The clerk, the chief deputy clerks, the probation officers, one private secretary, one personal stenographer to the clerk, and one personal bailiff to each judge are in the unclassified civil service of the city of Cleveland. Upon demand of the clerk, the civil service commission of the city of Cleveland shall certify a list of those eligible for the position of deputy clerk. From the list, the clerk shall designate chief clerks and the number of deputy clerks that the legislative authority determines are necessary.

Except as otherwise provided in this division, the bailiff, chief deputy bailiffs, and all deputy bailiffs of the Cleveland municipal court appointed after January 1, 1968, and the chief housing specialist, housing specialists, and housing division referees of the housing division of the Cleveland municipal court appointed under section 1901.331 of the Revised Code are in the unclassified civil service of the city of Cleveland. All deputy bailiffs of the housing division of the Cleveland municipal court appointed pursuant to that section are in the classified civil service of the city of Cleveland. Upon the demand of the judge of the housing division of the Cleveland municipal court, the civil service commission of the city of Cleveland shall certify a list of those eligible for the position of deputy bailiff of the housing division. From the list, the judge of the housing division shall designate the number of deputy bailiffs that the judge determines are necessary.

The chief deputy clerks, the chief clerks, and all other deputy clerks of the Cleveland municipal court shall receive the compensation that the clerk prescribes. Except as provided in division (A)(4)(a) of section 1901.331 of the Revised Code with respect to officers and employees of the housing division of the Cleveland municipal court, the bailiff, all deputy bailiffs, and assignment room personnel of the Cleveland municipal court shall receive the compensation that the court prescribes.

Any appointee under sections 1901.01 to 1901.37 of the Revised Code may be dismissed or discharged by the same power that appointed the appointee. In the case of the removal of any civil service appointee under those sections, an appeal may be taken from the decision of the civil service commission to the court of common pleas of Cuyahoga county to determine the sufficiency of the cause of removal. The appeal shall be taken within ten days of the finding of the commission.

In the Cleveland municipal court, the presiding judge may appoint on a full-time, per diem, or contractual basis any official court reporters for the civil branch of the court that the business of the court requires. The compensation of official court reporters shall be determined by the presiding judge of the court. The compensation shall be payable from the city treasury and from the treasury of Cuyahoga county in the same proportion as designated in section 1901.11 of the Revised Code for the payment of compensation of municipal judges. In every trial in which the services of a court reporter so appointed are requested by the judge, any party, or the attorney for any party, there shall be taxed for each day's services of the court reporter a fee in the same amount as may be taxed for similar services in the court of common pleas under section 2301.21 of the Revised Code, to be collected as other costs in the case. The fees so collected shall be paid quarterly by the clerk into the city treasury and the treasury of Cuyahoga county in the same proportion as the compensation for the court reporters is paid from the city and county treasuries and shall be credited to the general funds of the city and county treasuries.

(C) In the Hamilton county municipal court, all employees, including the bailiff, deputy bailiff, and courtroom bailiffs, are in the unclassified civil service.

Section 1901.321 | Municipal court contracts for transportation persons between jail and court.

• Effective: March 23, 2018
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 8 - 132nd General Assembly

A municipal court may enter into contracts with a county sheriff whose territorial jurisdiction includes the municipal court for the transportation of persons between the county jail and the municipal court. Each contract shall provide for the costs of providing transportation services from the county jail to the court and shall not apply to a period in excess of four years.

Section 1901.33 | Court employees.

• Effective: June 30, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The judge or judges of a municipal court may appoint one or more interpreters, one or more mental health professionals, one or more probation officers, an assignment commissioner, deputy assignment commissioners, and other court aides on a full-time, part-time, hourly, or other basis. Each appointee shall receive the compensation out of the city treasury that the legislative authority prescribes in either biweekly installments or semimonthly installments, as determined by the payroll administrator, except that in a county-operated municipal court they shall receive the compensation out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located that the board of county commissioners prescribes. Probation officers have all the powers of regular police officers and shall perform any duties that are designated by the judge or judges of the court. Assignment commissioners shall assign cases for trial and perform any other duties that the court directs.

The judge or judges may appoint one or more typists, stenographers, statistical clerks, and official court reporters, each of whom shall be paid the compensation out of the city treasury that the legislative authority prescribes, except that in a county-operated municipal court they shall be paid the compensation out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located that the board of county commissioners prescribes.

(B) If a municipal court appoints one or more probation officers, those officers shall constitute the municipal court department of probation unless the court designates other employees as the department of probation for the court.

(C) The chief probation officer may grant permission to a probation officer to carry firearms when required in the discharge of the probation officer's official duties if the probation officer has successfully completed a basic firearm training program that is approved by the executive director of the Ohio peace officer training commission. A probation officer who has been granted permission to carry a firearm in the discharge of the probation officer's official duties annually shall successfully complete a firearms requalification program in accordance with section 109.801 of the Revised Code.

(D) The judge or judges of a municipal court in which the clerk of the court is elected as provided in division (A)(1)(a) or (d) or (A)(2)(b) of section 1901.31 of the Revised Code may appoint an administrative assistant. The administrative assistant shall have charge of personnel related matters of the court and shall perform any other administrative duties assigned by the court. The administrative assistant shall receive the compensation out of the city treasury that the court prescribes, except that, in a county-operated municipal court, the administrative assistant shall receive the compensation out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located that the court prescribes.

Section 1901.331 | Housing or environmental division officers and employees.

• Effective: April 9, 2001
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 325 - 123rd General Assembly

(A)(1) Except as provided in divisions (A)(2) and (3) of this section, in those municipal courts in which a housing or environmental division is established pursuant to section 1901.011 of the Revised Code, the judge of the division shall appoint a chief housing or environmental specialist, may appoint one or more housing or environmental specialists and housing or environmental division referees, and may appoint for the division any employee or officer whom the judges of a municipal court can appoint pursuant to section 1901.32 or division (A) of section 1901.33 of the Revised Code.

(2) For the housing division of the Toledo municipal court, the judges of the court shall appoint a chief housing specialist, may appoint one or more housing specialists and housing division referees, and may appoint any employee or officer whom the judges can appoint pursuant to section 1901.32 or division (A) of section 1901.33 of the Revised Code.

(3) For the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court, the judges of the court shall appoint a chief environmental specialist, may appoint one or more environmental specialists and environmental division referees, and may appoint any employee or officer whom the judges can appoint pursuant to section 1901.32 or division (A) of section 1901.33 of the Revised Code. In lieu of, or in addition to, appointing environmental specialists, environmental division referees, and other environmental division employees or officers to perform duties only for that division, the judges of the court may appoint environmental specialists, referees, and other employees and officers to perform duties for the environmental division and the other divisions of the court, and the administrative judge of the court may assign other referees, employees, and officers of the court to perform functions for the environmental division.

(4)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the chief housing or environmental specialist, housing or environmental specialists, housing or environmental division referees, and other employees and officers of the housing or environmental division of a municipal court shall receive the compensation that the legislative authority prescribes, and shall be under the control of the judge of the division.

(b) The chief environmental specialist, environmental specialists, environmental division referees, and other employees and officers of the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court, during the time when they are performing duties for that division, and any other referees, employees, and officers of the court, during the time when they are performing duties for the environmental division pursuant to an assignment by the administrative judge of the court, shall be under the control of the judge of the environmental division.

(B)(1) The chief housing or environmental specialist and housing or environmental specialists of the housing or environmental division of a municipal court shall be knowledgeable in the maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of dwelling units and with respect to federal, state, and municipal laws and ordinances that pertain to the maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of dwelling units. Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, they shall provide expert assistance to the division and the parties before the division in the areas of their qualifications, perform mediation and field investigation services, and perform any other duties that the judge of the division prescribes.

(2) The chief environmental specialist and, during the time when they are performing duties for the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court, environmental specialists shall provide expert assistance to the division and the parties before the division in the areas of their qualifications, perform mediation and field investigation services, and perform any other duties that the judge of the division prescribes.

Section 1901.34 | Criminal prosecutions - compensation of prosecuting officers.

• Effective: April 30, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 101 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in divisions (B) and (D) of this section, the village solicitor, city director of law, or similar chief legal officer for each municipal corporation within the territory of a municipal court shall prosecute all cases brought before the municipal court for criminal offenses occurring within the municipal corporation for which that person is the solicitor, director of law, or similar chief legal officer. Except as provided in division (B) of this section, the village solicitor, city director of law, or similar chief legal officer of the municipal corporation in which a municipal court is located shall prosecute all criminal cases brought before the court arising in the unincorporated areas within the territory of the municipal court.

(B) The Auglaize county, Brown county, Clermont county, Columbiana county, Hocking county, Holmes county, Jackson county, Morrow county, Ottawa county, Paulding county, Perry county, Portage county, and Putnam county prosecuting attorneys shall prosecute in municipal court all violations of state law arising in their respective counties. The Carroll county, Crawford county, Hamilton county, Madison county, and Wayne county prosecuting attorneys, beginning January 1, 2008, the Erie county prosecuting attorney, beginning January 1, 2024, the Fulton county prosecuting attorney, and beginning on the effective date of this amendment, the Geauga county prosecuting attorney shall prosecute all violations of state law arising within the unincorporated areas of their respective counties. The Darke county prosecuting attorney shall prosecute in the Darke county municipal court all violations of state law arising in the county, except for violations of state law arising in the municipal corporation of Greenville and violations of state law arising in the village of Versailles. The Greene county board of county commissioners may provide for the prosecution of all violations of state law arising within the territorial jurisdiction of any municipal court located in Greene county. The Montgomery county prosecuting attorney shall prosecute in the Montgomery county municipal court all felony, misdemeanor, and traffic violations arising in the unincorporated townships of Jefferson, Jackson, Perry, and Clay and all felony violations of state law and all violations involving a state or county agency arising within the jurisdiction of the court. All other violations arising in the territory of the Montgomery county municipal court shall be prosecuted by the village solicitor, city director of law, or similar chief legal officer for each municipal corporation within the territory of the Montgomery county municipal court.

The prosecuting attorney of any county given the duty of prosecuting in municipal court violations of state law shall receive no additional compensation for assuming these additional duties, except that the prosecuting attorney of Hamilton, Portage, and Wayne counties shall receive compensation at the rate of four thousand eight hundred dollars per year, and the prosecuting attorney of Auglaize county shall receive compensation at the rate of one thousand eight hundred dollars per year, each payable from the county treasury of the respective counties in semimonthly installments.

(C) The village solicitor, city director of law, or similar chief legal officer shall perform the same duties, insofar as they are applicable to the village solicitor, city director of law, or similar chief legal officer, as are required of the prosecuting attorney of the county. The village solicitor, city director of law, similar chief legal officer or any assistants who may be appointed shall receive for such services additional compensation to be paid from the treasury of the county as the board of county commissioners prescribes.

(D) The prosecuting attorney of any county, other than Auglaize, Brown, Clermont, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Morrow, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Portage, or Putnam county, may enter into an agreement with any municipal corporation in the county in which the prosecuting attorney serves pursuant to which the prosecuting attorney prosecutes all criminal cases brought before the municipal court that has territorial jurisdiction over that municipal corporation for criminal offenses occurring within the municipal corporation. The prosecuting attorney of Auglaize, Brown, Clermont, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Morrow, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Portage, or Putnam county may enter into an agreement with any municipal corporation in the county in which the prosecuting attorney serves pursuant to which the respective prosecuting attorney prosecutes all cases brought before the Auglaize county, Brown county, Clermont county, Hocking county, Holmes county, Jackson county, Morrow county, Ottawa county, Paulding county, Perry county, Portage county, or Putnam county municipal court for violations of the ordinances of the municipal corporation or for criminal offenses other than violations of state law occurring within the municipal corporation. For prosecuting these cases, the prosecuting attorney and the municipal corporation may agree upon a fee to be paid by the municipal corporation, which fee shall be paid into the county treasury, to be used to cover expenses of the office of the prosecuting attorney.

Last updated February 8, 2024 at 10:05 AM

Section 1901.35 | Transcript of records.

• Effective: December 15, 1967
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 164 - 107th General Assembly

The records of a municipal court may be proved by a transcript certified by the clerk of the municipal court under its official seal, which seal shall consist of the coat of arms of the state within a circle one and one-fourth inches in diameter, and shall be surrounded by the name of the municipal court.

Section 1901.36 | Accommodations and needs of the court.

• Effective: July 8, 1991
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 119th General Assembly

(A) The legislative authority of a municipal court shall provide suitable accommodations for the municipal court and its officers. The legislative authority of a county-operated municipal court may pay rent for the accommodations.

The legislative authority shall provide for the use of the court suitable accommodations for a law library, complete sets of reports of the supreme and inferior courts, and such other law books and publications as are considered necessary by the presiding judge, and shall provide for each courtroom a copy of the Revised Code.

The legislative authority shall provide any other employees that are necessary, each of whom shall be paid such compensation out of the city treasury as the legislative authority prescribes, except that the compensation of these other employees in a county-operated municipal court shall be paid out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located, as the board of county commissioners prescribes. It shall provide all necessary form books, dockets, books of record, and all supplies, including telephone, furniture, heat, light, and janitor service, and for such other ordinary or extraordinary expenses as it considers advisable or necessary for the proper operation or administration of the court.

(B) The legislative authority of the municipal court shall provide suitable accommodations for the housing or environmental division of the court. The accommodations shall be in the courthouse, include at least one courtroom in which jury trials can be conducted, be located in one or more adjacent rooms, and be provided in accordance with the Rules of Superintendence for Municipal Courts and County Courts.

Section 1901.37 | Bonds.

• Effective: March 19, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 159 - 116th General Assembly

All official bonds required by sections 1901.01 to 1901.37 of the Revised Code, when properly executed and approved, shall be filed with the city treasurer, except that in a county-operated municipal court, they shall be filed with the treasurer of the county in which the court is located. Whenever a surety bond is given, the premium on the bond shall be paid out of the city treasury, except that in a county-operated municipal court, the premium on the bond shall be paid out of the treasury of the county in which the court is located.

Section 1901.38 | Liability coverage for municipal court judges and employees.

• Effective: May 6, 1992
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 175 - 119th General Assembly

The legislative authority may procure insurance covering the judges of the municipal court and the employees of the municipal court, including but not limited to any deputy clerks, the bailiff of the municipal court and any deputy bailiffs, the assignment commissioner, and probation department personnel, in one or more policies, against liability arising from the duties of their office or employment, including liability on account of errors or omissions unknowingly made by them and for which they may be held liable.

The policy or policies of insurance shall be in an amount of not less than fifty thousand dollars. The premiums shall be paid from moneys appropriated by the legislative authority from funds available for that purpose.

This section does not apply to the procurement of insurance covering the clerk of the municipal court.

Section 1901.381 | Liability coverage for municipal court clerk.

• Effective: May 6, 1992
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 175 - 119th General Assembly

(A) Each clerk of a municipal court shall have liability coverage as a condition of performing the duties of his office.

(B) The legislative authority shall provide liability coverage for the clerk of the municipal court in accordance with this section. The coverage may be provided through a policy or policies of insurance, a program of self-insurance or joint self-insurance, a joint self-insurance pool, or any other independent or joint method or arrangement insuring the clerk against liability arising from the duties of his office. The coverage may be provided separately or as part of liability coverage provided to other officers or employees of a municipal corporation or county.

(C) The liability coverage provided under division (B) of this section shall be in an amount and subject to terms and conditions that are necessary to protect the clerk of the municipal court against liability arising from the duties of his office or employment and that are consistent with the method or arrangement used for the provision of the coverage.

(D) The costs, premiums, or charges of the liability coverage provided under division (B) of this section shall be borne in either of the following ways:

(1) In the same manner as the costs, premiums, or charges of health care coverage are borne for the clerk of the municipal court in section 1901.312 of the Revised Code;

(2) In accordance with the terms and conditions of any agreement entered into by the county or municipal corporations within the territory of the municipal court.

Section 1901.41 | Case files retention and destruction.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding sections 149.381 and 149.39 of the Revised Code and subject to division (E) of this section, each municipal court, by rule, may order the destruction or other disposition of the files of cases that have been finally disposed of by the court for at least five years as follows:

(1) If a case has been finally disposed of for at least five years, but less than fifteen years prior to the adoption of the rule of court for destruction or other disposition of the files, the court may order the files destroyed or otherwise disposed of only if the court first complies with division (B)(1) of this section;

(2) If a case has been finally disposed of for fifteen years or more prior to the adoption of the rule of court for destruction or other disposition of the files, the court may order the files destroyed or otherwise disposed of without having copied or reproduced the files prior to their destruction.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, all files destroyed or otherwise disposed of under division (A)(1) of this section shall be copied or reproduced prior to their destruction or disposition in the manner and according to the procedure prescribed in section 9.01 of the Revised Code. The copies or reproductions of the files made pursuant to section 9.01 of the Revised Code shall be retained and preserved by the court for a period of ten years after the destruction of the original files in accordance with this section, after which the copies or reproductions themselves may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of.

Files destroyed or otherwise disposed of under division (A)(1) of this section that are solely concerned with criminal prosecutions for minor misdemeanor offenses or that are concerned solely with minor misdemeanor traffic prosecutions do not have to be copied or reproduced in any manner or under any procedure prior to their destruction or disposition as provided in this section.

(2) Files destroyed or otherwise disposed of under division (A)(2) of this section do not have to be copied or reproduced in any manner or under any procedure prior to their destruction or disposition.

(C) Nothing in this section permits or shall be construed as permitting the destruction or other disposition of the files in the Cleveland municipal court of cases involving the following actions and proceedings:

(1) The sale of real property in an action to foreclose and marshal all liens on the real property;

(2) The sale of real property in an action to foreclose a mortgage on the real property;

(3) The determination of rights in the title to real property either in the form of a creditor's bill or in any other action intended to determine or adjudicate the right, title, and interest of a person or persons in the ownership of a parcel or parcels of real property or any interest therein.

(D) All dockets, indexes, journals, and cash books of the court shall be retained and preserved by the court for at least twenty-five years unless they are reproduced in the manner and according to the procedure prescribed in section 9.01 of the Revised Code, in which case the reproductions shall be retained and preserved by the court at least until the expiration of the twenty-five year period for which the originals would have had to have been retained. Court dockets, indexes, journals, and cash books, and all other court records also shall be subject to destruction or other disposition under section 149.381 of the Revised Code.

(E) Notwithstanding sections 149.381 and 149.39 of the Revised Code, each clerk of a municipal court shall retain documentation regarding each criminal conviction and plea of guilty involving a case that is or was before the court. The documentation shall be in a form that is admissible as evidence in a criminal proceeding as evidence of a prior conviction or that is readily convertible to or producible in a form that is admissible as evidence in a criminal proceeding as evidence of a prior conviction and may be retained in any form authorized by section 9.01 of the Revised Code. The clerk shall retain this documentation for a period of fifty years after the entry of judgment in the case, except that documentation regarding cases solely concerned with minor misdemeanor offenses or minor misdemeanor traffic offenses shall be retained as provided in divisions (A) and (B) of this section, and documentation regarding other misdemeanor traffic offenses shall be retained for a period of twenty-five years after the entry of judgment in the case. This section shall apply to records currently retained and to records created on or after September 23, 2004.

Section 1901.43 | Order for accused to appear for fingerprinting.

• Effective: August 14, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 163 - 127th General Assembly

(A) If a sheriff or chief of police has not taken, or caused to be taken, a person's or child's fingerprints in accordance with division (A)(1) of section 109.60 of the Revised Code with respect to a crime or act set forth in that division by the time of the arraignment or first appearance of the person or child with respect to that crime or act, the municipal court shall order the person or child to appear before the sheriff or chief of police within twenty-four hours of the arraignment or first appearance to have the person's or child's fingerprints taken as provided in division (A)(2) of section 109.60 of the Revised Code.

(B) If the municipal court has jurisdiction over a case involving a person or child with respect to whom division (A)(1) or (2) of section 109.60 of the Revised Code requires a sheriff or chief of police to take the person's or child's fingerprints, the municipal court shall inquire at the time of the person's or child's sentencing or adjudication for the crime or act for which the fingerprints were required to be taken whether or not the person or child has been fingerprinted pursuant to division (A)(1) or (2) of section 109.60 of the Revised Code for the original arrest or court appearance upon which the sentence or adjudication is based. If a person or child was not fingerprinted for the original arrest or court appearance, the municipal court shall order the person or child to appear before the sheriff or chief of police within twenty-four hours to have the person's or child's fingerprints taken as provided in division (A)(3) of section 109.60 of the Revised Code.

Section 1901.44 | Alternative methods for collecting court costs; notice of balance due.

• Effective: September 19, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 143 - 130th General Assembly

(A)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing a municipal court finds that a person who is found guilty of an offense is unable to pay costs, the court may order the offender to perform community service in lieu of costs.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, if at the time of sentencing or at any time after sentencing a municipal court finds that a person who is found guilty of an offense will not be able to pay costs in full when they are due, the court may order the offender to pay the costs in installments according to a schedule set by the court.

(B) If a person is charged with an offense in municipal court and either fails to appear in court at the required time and place to answer the charge or pleads guilty to or is found guilty of the offense and fails within the time allowed by the court to pay any fine or costs imposed by the court, the court may enter information relative to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar of motor vehicles pursuant to division (C) of this section and send the form to the registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of the Revised Code.

The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the registrar pursuant to division (C) of this section and sending the form to the registrar.

(C) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to municipal courts forms to be used for a notice to the registrar of failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the registrar of payment of fines or costs under division (B) of this section. The registrar may approve the use of other forms for these purposes.

The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission, the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form that is not transmitted electronically.